Justice Tšeliso Monaphathi appointed Acting Chief Justice
By Nat Molomo
MASERU — High Court judge Justice Tšeliso Monaphathi has been appointed Acting Chief Justice.
The registrar of the High Court and Court of Appeal, Lesitsi Mokeke, told the Lesotho Times that King Letsie III had appointed Justice Monaphathi with effect from March 12 pending the appointment of a substantive Chief Justice.
The appointment comes after Chief Justice Mahapela Lehohla’s decision last week to go on a six-month leave pending retirement on August 13.
The announcement ended days of speculation over who was to take over from Justice Lehohla.
The appointment of Justice Monaphathi did not come as a surprise since he was the most senior judge on the bench after Justice Lehohla.
Law Society of Lesotho president, Advocate Monaheng Rasekoai, said the appointment was expected.
“He is the heir apparent and is very experienced. I do not think the profession has queries about him,” Rasekoai said.
Advocate Tumisang Mosotho also welcomed the appointment saying Justice Monaphathi “is the most senior judge” in terms of their hierarchy on the bench.
Justice Monaphathi has been a judge since 1994.
Chief Justice Lehohla is leaving the bench after 41 years, having started as an assistant registrar at the High Court in 1972.
Before that he had served as a registrar and resident magistrate and was confirmed as a High Court judge in 1988.
Comment by Mohapi on 21 March 2013:
I really wish to congratulate Justice Monaphathi, he has really done a lot for this country.
Comment by Lefefooane on 21 March 2013:
Nxa. I am not impressed.
Comment by lIETA on 21 March 2013:
Helang Lefefoane! a ko tlohe mona….o rata tsa BNP le DC feela. oatla phoqeha.
Comment by Joe Lekau on 21 March 2013:
Congradulations Justice Monaphathi. E se eka u ka hla se kotsomala nako e telele.
Comment by Goduka on 21 March 2013:
i think Chief Justices are elected based maybe on landmark rulings they have made in the past not the number of years they have served. Can any Law proffessor or anyone share the historic light on the achievements of Mr Monaphathi, it will give us a chance to weigh his capabilities for us people down here in the villages.
Comment by vocalist on 21 March 2013:
He is too soft to clear d mess
Comment by Apole on 21 March 2013:
‘Musong oa liphetoho achee ke bona liphetoho ka ‘nete ea sa boneng ke sefofu.
Comment by me on 21 March 2013:
alert(‘bye bye lehohla!!!, -1 openly corrupt judge’);
Comment by aooooo on 22 March 2013:
Ke sure ke taba ea seniority feela! Nothing special! Ena he ke soasoi!
Comment by matlopotlopo on 22 March 2013:
Ntate Justice Maqutu o kae? Mosebetsi ke ona o lahlile!!
Comment by thabatseka on 22 March 2013:
Rea u lebohela hle mohlomphehi. Matlama qhanollang lipere li fule, hahabo matlama pula eeana. Eseka ntate u ka ba mohlala ua qalella ho etsa likahlolo tse ngotsoeng.
Ekaba uena u tla sebetsa joang le mohlomphehi tlaase mola. Ha kee ke utloe eka le uena ha le okhelane mollo le eena tje?
Comment by molomo mosehlanyana on 23 March 2013:
Ke ea molebohela mohlomphehi ekaka khetho e o ea rabasotho eka retsoalla namane e khunoana ele ‘hore naha ebe le bahlomphehi ba kelello libohale lipharaletseng kahona toka e ajoe eseke eaka bolo fela tjena etla rahelakoa holimo ebelo katjoa kebatsehetsi ebe lebona habasa tseba hore naa bae neha mang bamakala le eona babe ba ipapalle eona motsamaisi asa hlokomela hore haesale kalebaleng.
Comment by Thabang on 25 March 2013:
Cngradulatins Your Lordship. I wish that you could concentrate on clearing the mess created by your predecessor, during your acting spell. The problems bedevilling the judiciary are better known by you than anyone, hence I cannot fault sentiments that you may be the right candidate for the job. One last thorny issue Your Lordship concerns pending judgments at the High Court and Magistrates’ Court.
Comment by kokontje on 26 March 2013:
helang batho bare eane oa likoporasi ore hahona pooana e tlanne e sollise mokali moo a sebetsang teng; ba botse commissioner ea pele ho eena le eo e kileng eaba deputy hore naa o ne a ba ntse joang mosebetsing. kapa ba botse bannanyana ba sebetsang le eena hona joale hore naaa seeta sa hae se lla joang ore eena she once dinnered le tonakholo lechatong la ngoanangoanabo ba bua ba etsa qeto; le ngoana tonakholo ke mokhotsiae oa lawyer le matona a mo lekane haele liPS tsohle tsona o li hlotse fefenene. heleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeele