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- Masupha Sole back as water adviser<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
- ‘White gold’ leaves a dark stain in Lesotho<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
- SA, Lesotho set to show off water project in France<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
In a letter to the Lesotho government dated February 2012, which amaBhungane has seen, South Africa\u2019s former water minister, Edna Molewa, demands Sole\u2019s removal.<\/p>\n
Now it has emerged that Lesotho\u2019s directorate on corruption and economic affairs is investigating Sole \u2013 allegedly in relation to the R1.6-million salary he received as an adviser for five months between September 2014 and January this year. The directorate\u2019s director general, Borotho Matsoso, confirmed that an investigation was under way but would not provide details.<\/p>\n
But informed sources said the investigation centres on how Sole\u2019s services were procured\u00a0and funded.<\/p>\n
Salary
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\nAmaBhungane has been told that there were numerous failed attempts by Lesotho last year to pay Sole\u2019s salary from the budget of the bilateral commission, which is mainly provided by South Africa.<\/p>\nThe next move appears to have been to approach the treasury directly on the salary issue.<\/p>\n
In a letter seen by amaBhungane dated January 21 this year, the former principal secretary for water affairs, Emmanuel Lesoma, asked the principal secretary of finance, Khosi Letsie, for \u201cauthority to pay the salary of Mr Masupha Sole for [the] period … September 2014 to March 2015\u201d by redirecting money from the Lesotho Highlands Water Project funds to his department.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs per article 9 (1) of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project Treaty, it is the prerogative of each party to appoint suitable expertise whenever there is a need of particular skill to strengthen its team. As a result, the government of Lesotho has employed Mr Sole to provide advisory services.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe ministry of finance is therefore requested to give authority to remunerate Mr Sole through the treasury system. Funds are available for the financial year 2014-2015 under the recurrent budget for the Lesotho Highlands Water Commission.<\/p>\n
\u201cAuthority is also requested to transfer enough funds from the LHWP [Lesotho Highlands Water Project] subvention to the wages approved for financial year 2014-2015 under the commissioner\u00a0of water.\u201d<\/p>\n
Costs
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\nThe correspondence further indicates Sole invoiced the ministry on February 10 this year detailing costs incurred for provision of advisory services from September last year until February this year.<\/p>\nThe correspondence in amaBhungane\u2019s possession indicates that Letsie gave his approval.<\/p>\n
Some insight into the nature of the anticorruption directorate\u2019s investigation is provided by an exchange between the directorate and the commission\u2019s secretary, Charles Mwakalumbwa, this year.<\/p>\n
In a response on March 31, seen by amaBhungane, Mwakalumbwa says: \u201cYour letter requests that we furnish your office with a detailed description of the consultancy services alleged to have been provided by Mr Masupha Sole to the LHWC between the periods August 19 2014 [and] February 28 2015.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease be advised that Mr Masupha Sole has never provided any consultancy services to the LHWC as described in your letter.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lesoma refused to comment, saying he is no longer principal secretary and that questions should be directed to his successor, Khomoatsana Tau, and Letsie could not be contacted. Tau declined to comment on Sole\u2019s salary, saying Sole negotiated his own remuneration package with government.<\/p>\n
‘How the council of state thinks’
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\nSole is said to be a close personal friend of Lesotho\u2019s King Letsie III. He is also said to have significant influence in government, especially over weaker ministers without constituency seats in Parliament who are easily removed from office, including current Water Minister Ralechate Mokose.<\/p>\n- \n
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The sources also alleged that Sole claims to deal in \u201cinformation from the council of state for ministers\u201d \u2013 the king\u2019s counsellors \u2013 and that he advises the minister about \u201chow the council of state thinks\u201d.<\/p>\n
The sources alleged that Sole has become close to the prime minister\u2019s son, Rethabile Mosisili, who briefly acted as acting principal secretary after Lesoma was transferred to another ministry.<\/p>\n
AmaBhungane has seen minutes of a meeting between Lesotho water affairs officials and members of the bilateral commission in August last year, highlighting Sole\u2019s influence.<\/p>\n
It quotes Lesoma as saying the decision-making powers of government delegates to the commission \u201chave been removed forthwith and they will now and in the future remain with Mr Sole\u201d.<\/p>\n
When the delegates queried this, \u201cMr Sole indicated [that] a decision is a done deal as the minister had accepted his advice that any decision for the [Lesotho] delegation will be made by him,\u201d the minutes say.<\/p>\n
‘Rubbish’ allegations
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\nContacted for comment, Sole said he was hired by the Lesotho government to advise the water affairs ministry and questions about his work should be referred to the ministry.<\/p>\nOn his \u201cbona fides and profile\u201d, he said the Highlands Water Project had received more than 20 awards for outstanding achievements in engineering, social and environmental fields, \u201cincluding the project of the century\u201d award.<\/p>\n
He said it was public knowledge that the project fell under \u201cmy leadership and stewardship\u201d.<\/p>\n
Asked whether he was aware he was under investigation, he dismissed all allegations against him as \u201crubbish\u201d.<\/p>\n
AmaBhungane understands Sole\u2019s payment came after battles between him and Lesotho\u2019s chief delegate on the bilateral commission, Charles Putsoane, during former prime minister Thomas Thabane\u2019s tenure.<\/p>\n
‘Even the king” thinks so
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\nPutsoane is locked in a labour dispute with the government over alleged moves to remove him from the commission. He would not comment to amaBhungane.<\/p>\nThabane said the coalition government under his leadership continued to use Sole despite South Africa\u2019s reservations, because he had been reformed by his prison term.<\/p>\n
Thabane said Sole has first-hand experience to share about the Lesotho Highlands Water Project and that Lesotho needs his advice.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe went to prison and I assure you he is corrected now. Even the king thinks he is corrected. We can\u2019t let South Africa dictate to us who we should hire to advise us.\u201d<\/p>\n
* Got a tip-off for us about this story? Email [email\u00a0protected]<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n
- The NPA advocate and the grabber<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- ‘White gold’ leaves a dark stain in Lesotho<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
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