Notorious cattle rustler killed

The country's allegedly most notorious "cattle thief", Tekesele "Makhoathi" Shai, has been killed in a battle with police at his home at Masaleng Ha Setenane, in the Koro Koro area in January 7, the Minister of Home Affairs and Public Safety, Mr. Motsoahae Thabane, has announced.

Announcing the death at a press briefing in Maseru, Mr. Thabane said police had realised that following a brief appearance before the chief magistrate on December 31, 2003, "Makhoathi" Shai had brazenly gone to his home instead of returning to the central prison where he was on remand. Investigations with the prosecutor's office had in fact confirmed that the man was to have returned to prison.

Police had gone to his home to re-arrest him when he resisted arrest and a gun fight ensued in which Makhoathi was killed.

"Instead of surrendering himself to the police like he used to do the other times he has had to be arrested, he then decided to shoot at the police, and in self-defence the police shot back and he lost his life on the spot" the Minister said.

Mr.Thabane said while the death of any citizen was to be regretted, this death was uncalled for because Makhoathi opted for violence rather than obey police officers' commands to surrender himself. The late Shai had been involved  in many criminal activities, including stock theft, murder and illegal possession of firearms. 

He had for the past five years been in several encounters with the police and had at one stage jumped bail and escaped to South Africa but had lately been in custody until the court appearance on December 31, Mr. Thabane said, refuting allegations that the police went to Koro- Koro with the intention to kill Makhoathi.

The Minister appealed to another escaped prisoner, former second lieutenant Phakiso Molise, on the run since August last year, to surrender himself so that he is able to finish his jail sentence. Although it is known that Molise is still in South Africa, the process of locating his whereabouts has been a bit slow, though he was doing everything in his power to have Molise caught and brought back to serve his sentence here in Lesotho.

He gave the nation his assurance that his Ministry was willing to make 2004 the most peaceful year by ensuring that there was public safety and security like never before.

09 January 2004