Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
The South African High Commission in Maseru has learnt from media reports this morning that fourteen members of the South African Police Service were allegedly arrested in Lesotho on the grounds that they had come to restore order regarding the problems within the Lesotho Police.
The South African High Commission had investigated the allegations and an official of the High Commission had visited the police station where the fourteen persons were detained.
The second in charge of the Mabote police station in Maseru, Mr Setlolela, confirmed that there were fourteen South Africans arrested for having illegally entered Lesotho on 11 February 1997. He confirmed that there were no members of the South African Police Service amongst them, instead the group consisted of teenagers from Botshabelo in the Free State who had apparently entered Lesotho for purposes of smuggling dagga to South Africa. These persons have been charged for illegally entering Lesotho.
The Department of Foreign Affairs wishes to stress that at no stage had members of the South African Police Service entered Lesotho for purposes of intervening in the ongoing dispute within the Lesotho Police. No members of the South African security services had been requested to be on standby for such purpose.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRETORIA 12 FEBRUARY 1997