A tribunal that was investigating the alleged misconduct of a commissioner of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), would compile a report that would be submitted to King Letsie III regarding the matter. The Chairman of the tribunal Justice Francis Xavier Rooney made the announcement in the High Court on Friday, which marked the end of the tribunal.

This follows close of evidence and submission of heads of arguments by the prosecution and defence counsel. Justice Rooney indicated that, the tribunal is yet to scrutinise the evidence  and heads of arguments before they  can  write a report of the findings that would be submitted to the King. Justice Rooney's announcement was preceded by a submission of a prosecutor, Mr. Hendrick Viljoen, who disputed Mr. Mafole Sematlane's joining of political parties, in having discredited his own institution, the IEC.
   

Mr. Viljoen  stated that, Mr. Sematlane did all the acts that he is alleged to have done, during the time when he could still remember whatever he was doing. He said, evidence of seven witnesses that testified, fully implicated the Commissioner.
     

The defence counsel Advocate Ts'abo Matooane counteracted the prosecutor's submission by saying it was apparent that Commissioner Sematlane did all the acts he is alleged to have done, by the time he already had a nervous breakdown. He attributed signing of an affidavit of BNP's petition without having read it, as proof that  Mr. Sematlane's problem  was already prevailing.

He added that even his loss of memory was witnessed during the time when Mr. Sematlane was asked questions by the tribunal, who responded  perpetually that, he could not remember. "The problem must have manifested long before August, and Mr.
Sematlane only felt it when it had already intensified," Mr. Matooane disclosed. The Defense counsel also pointed out that  Mr. Sematlane's colleagues acted in a different manner, not realising the intensity of his problem." 

Mr. Matooane  specified that, the commissioner only needs regular medical attention and rest, to overcome his problem. He said he could not just be discarded, as he has contributed to the  success of the country's general elections.

Other members of  the Tribunal were Justice Kelello Guni and Acting Justice Thamsanqa Nomngcongo. The Tribunal's  investigation followed reports that Commissioner Sematlane allegedly made statements  in local newspapers, and radio stations in which he is alleged to have said that the country's general elections that were held on May 25, had been fraudulently conducted.

1st April 2003