Ellerines Furnishers are claiming compensation to the tune of M713, 615.62 whilst Town Talk claims M713, 483 because of damages and looting of their property on September 11, 1998. The LNIC contests the claims and maintains  that these were the result of war, for which the shops were not covered.

Testifying in the civil case brought before the Lesotho High Court on February 3, was army officer, Private Moeketsi Tsubane, who gave evidence of how he was part of a group of soldiers involved in an arson attack on the Prime Minister, Mr. Pakalitha Mosisili's house at Roma during the 1998 turmoil.

Private Tsubane alleged the arson attacks, which also included the Deputy Prime Minister's house in Mafeteng as well as Cabinet Minister Motsoahae Thabane's, were in retaliation for government's asking the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to attack the local army. Mr. Thabane's was the first to be torched that day, he said.

Private Tsubane said he and one Corporal Paulosi torched the smaller of the Prime Minister's two houses because it looked lived in while the bigger seemed unoccupied. They used  matches and some paraffin they found in the house.

"Before setting the house alight, Private Seleke, Corporal Paulosi and I fired at it from the outside. I was armed with a Galilee rifle, we were all armed," he said.

The case that is before Justice Ts'eliso Monaphathi is continuing. Advocate Hendrick Viljoen (SC) legally represents the plaintiffs with Advocate Kemp Kemp (SC), representing the defendant.

3 February 2004