New ministers vow to revitalise Home Affairs, Local Govt 

Moroke Sekoboto 

NEWLY appointed ministers, Nkhethoa Seetsa and Voeswa Tsheka, have pledged sweeping reforms to restore efficiency and integrity in the ministries of Local Government and Chieftainship, and Home Affairs and Police. 

The commitments were made during their first joint meeting with senior government officials held at the Police Training College (PTC) this week, where both ministers called for a radical overhaul of operations, targeting corruption, inefficiency and poor service delivery. 

Mr Seetsa, who was sworn in as local government minister on Monday, after initially declining the appointment, wasted no time in setting the tone, declaring himself a “field person” determined to take a hands-on approach in tackling challenges within his ministry. 

“I am not an office person, I am a field person, so I will be hands-on to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery,” Mr Seetsa said. 

“We have to work collectively. I will not perform if there is internal sabotage. We must serve Basotho to the best of our ability and enforce the laws we already have.” 

He urged civil servants to “pull up their socks” and work together to transform lives, warning against internal divisions that could derail progress. 

The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs and Police was split last week, resulting in Mr Seetsa taking charge of Local Government and Chieftainship, while Ms Tsheka assumed leadership of Home Affairs and Police. 

They replaced Lebona Lephema who has been redeployed to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Business Development by Prime Minister Sam Matekane. 

Their appointment was part of a major cabinet shake-up ever done by Mr Matekane since he assumed office in October 2022. 

Ms Tsheka, on her part, vowed to root out entrenched corruption within her ministry, promising decisive action against nepotism, bribery and delays in passport issuance. 

“We must fight corruption, which is dire in this ministry. We cannot accept a situation where some people are treated differently because of who they are. There must be equal justice for all,” Ms Tsheka said. 

She also took aim at traffic officers accused of soliciting bribes from motorists, saying it was the ministry’s duty to clamp down on such practices. 

Addressing widespread public frustration over passport delays, Ms Tsheka said urgent interventions were needed. 

“People are not happy with the issuance of passports. We must go back to the drawing board, identify the problem and urgently implement solutions to improve service delivery,” she said. 

Meanwhile, Chief of Police, Advocate Borotho Matsoso, assured the ministers of the police service’s full cooperation, pledging commitment to improving service delivery and safeguarding national interests. 

“We are here at your disposal, ready to cooperate and implement your directives to ensure Basotho receive quality services,” Adv Matsoso said. 

He highlighted growing concerns over the encroachment of residential developments onto arable agricultural land, stressing the need for decisive enforcement. 

“We must address the issue of houses being built on agricultural land,” he added. 

Principal Secretary, Mabataung Khalane, who serves both ministries, did not mince words in her assessment, stating that government institutions were failing Basotho, particularly in land allocation and housing. 

“Housing is a fundamental human right. When people live in vulnerable conditions, it means we are not doing our job,” Ms Khalane said. 

She criticised illegal self-allocation of agricultural land and delays in issuing land leases, describing them as clear indicators of systemic failure. 

Ms Khalane also raised alarm over corruption within the Home Affairs department, including reports of services being bought. 

“It is deeply concerning that unlawful practices persist in a ministry that works closely with the police. We cannot assist other ministries if we are corrupt ourselves. We must change and commit to improving service delivery,” she said. 

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