…as police launch high-level investigation into allegations against PM’s advisor
Rethabile Pitso
A MEETING at the State House that began as a discussion about a proposed Gender-Based Violence (GBV) initiative allegedly turned into a confrontation over unwanted sexual advances, forcing a prominent priest to devise a way of escaping the situation, the Sunday Express has established.
The alleged victim, civil society activist and priest, Relebohile Tuoane, is said to have met Prime Minister Sam Matekane on 15 June 2026, at State House to present a proposal seeking funding for a GBV-focused initiative.
According to a source close to the investigation, Mr Matekane was impressed by the M1 million proposal and told Ms Tuoane he would appoint one of his advisors to engage with her further.
Ms Tuoane subsequently received a telephone call from a State House official that evening inviting her to meet one of the Prime Minister’s advisors the following day.
It was during that meeting, held at State House on 16 June, that the alleged sexual harassment occurred.
According to the source, Ms Tuoane was presenting her proposal to advisor when he allegedly began making unwanted sexual advances towards her.
The encounter allegedly escalated to a point where Ms Tuoane found herself physically resisting him.
An audio recording which Ms Tuoane apparently intended to share privately with friends, but which subsequently circulated on social media, contains her account of the alleged encounter.
In the recording, Ms Tuoane alleges that the advisor fondled her breasts, thighs and other parts of her body despite her protests.
She says the official at one point told her: “Your intelligence arouses me”.
She is also heard saying she eventually told him she would sleep with him, but not at State House, allegedly as a strategy to get him to stop.
A source close to the investigation told the Sunday Express on Friday that the leaked audio did not contain the full account of what allegedly happened.
According to the source, after Ms Tuoane made the statement about sleeping with him elsewhere, the advisor allegedly suggested they leave State House for a more private location.
Ms Tuoane is said to have reluctantly agreed because she feared provoking him further.
Once outside, the advisor allegedly insisted that she travel with him in his official vehicle while her own vehicle would follow behind driven by one of the State House drivers.
The convoy allegedly proceeded to Ms Tuoane’s home in Khubetsoana.
But upon arriving there, the advisor allegedly became angry after discovering that Ms Tuoane’s elderly housekeeper was at the house.
“I thought you said you lived alone,” he allegedly told her.
The source said the advisor then suggested they go to her workplace, as he believed they would be alone there.
But the plan allegedly failed again when they arrived at her office and encountered her secretary.
The advisor allegedly attempted to persuade Ms Tuoane to send the secretary away, but she refused.
“He was already angry and, after realising that he was not going to get Ms Tuoane alone, he left,” the source said.
It was only after the encounter that Ms Tuoane, still distressed by what had allegedly happened, reported the matter to a State House official who had initially facilitated her meeting with the advisor.
She was reportedly informed that Mr Matekane was out of the country on official business.
The Prime Minister undertook foreign trips to China and Nigeria around that period and was away for several weeks.
According to the source, the advisor subsequently became aware that Ms Tuoane had complained about his alleged misconduct.
He allegedly sent her a message informing her that her application for about M1 million in funding had not been approved and that she was no longer welcome at State House.
The source further alleges that the advisor subsequently sought information about Ms Tuoane’s personal history, including her experience as a GBV survivor and psychological treatment she had received.
The source claims that this information was allegedly used to discredit Ms Tuoane by portraying her as psychologically unstable and suggesting that her past trauma influenced allegations she made against powerful men.
From complaint to police probe
For several weeks, Ms Tuoane is said to have waited for action from State House.
By 6 July, according to the source, she had become increasingly frustrated and approached a friend in the police service for advice on how to formally report the alleged harassment.
The intervention reportedly resulted in the matter being brought to the attention of Mr Matekane.
Mr Matekane allegedly ordered for a meeting on or around 4 August involving Ms Tuoane, the advisor and the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff, Sofonea Shale.
The purpose of the meeting was to establish what had transpired between Ms Tuoane and the advisor.
According to the source, the meeting raised serious concerns for Mr Shale, who subsequently brought the matter to the attention of Chief of Police, Advocate Borotho Matsoso.
A high-level police investigation was then initiated.
The source claimed that the investigation had been delayed by the advisor’s alleged attempts to influence how the matter was handled and his alleged failure to provide the Prime Minister with an accurate account of events.
“I have full confidence that the level of investigations being conducted will establish the truth. The public must be patient,” the source said.
Contacted for comment, Ms Tuoane said she was not in a position to comment on the matter because it was under police investigation.
Police spokesperson, Superintendent Thabo Mohai, on Friday confirmed that an investigation had been launched and was still ongoing.
State House confirms investigation
The allegations became public after the audio recording was leaked and circulated on social media.
The Prime Minister’s Office subsequently issued a statement acknowledging the matter and confirming that it had been referred to the police.
Prime Minister’s Press Attache, Thapelo Mabote, also confirmed to the Sunday Express on Friday that the matter had been handed over to the police.
Mr Mabote declined to identify the official at the centre of the allegations or discuss details of the investigation.
“We are working with all parties relevant to the matter to ensure that the matter is brought to conclusion accordingly. We are corroborating with the police for any evidence they seek,” he said.
He confirmed that there were surveillance cameras at the State House but said he could not confirm whether the alleged incident had been captured.
“We have cameras present at State House but I am not in any position to confirm or deny whether the incident took place,” Mabote said.
He added that the question of what administrative action, if any, should be taken against the official would be for the relevant government structures, including Human Resources and Legal Services, to determine.
“There are offices here such as the Human Resource and Legal offices which I believe are expected to seek which measures to undertake in such situations. At the moment we have left those responsible to act according to what the law dictates,” he said.
Official govt statement
The government went further to release a statement on Friday, saying it became aware of the allegation and immediately engaged both the complainant and the officer accused of the alleged sexual assault.
The Office said it treated the allegation seriously, particularly given the vulnerability that may accompany reports of sexual harassment and GBV, including fear of stigma, victimisation, intimidation and further harm.
“Recognising GBV as a serious threat to human rights, dignity and the safety of individuals, the Office listened both to the complainant and the officer,” the statement said.
According to the government, it subsequently brought the complainant’s concerns to the attention of the Commissioner of Police.
The complainant was advised to open a case with the police in accordance with the applicable procedures, the statement said.
The government maintained that, having referred the matter to the police, it expected the complaint to receive due attention.
“The Office remains committed to respecting and supporting the investigation and providing any cooperation lawfully required,” it said.
It further indicated that appropriate administrative measures would be taken where necessary to safeguard the integrity of the investigation and the wellbeing of those involved.
The government, however, did not pronounce on the merits of the allegation or suggest that the accused officer was guilty. Instead, it emphasised that the matter should be dealt with through the appropriate investigative and legal processes.
The Prime Minister’s Office also stressed its commitment to protecting those involved while allowing the investigation to proceed.
Minister of Home Affairs and Police, Voeswa Tsheka, also weight in saying the police will investigate the matter thoroughly, without fear or favour.
Church background
The allegations have also triggered debate on social media over Ms Tuoane’s background and credibility.
Another source who spoke to this publication strongly disputed attempts to portray her as an individual without a reputable community or church leadership history.
According to the source, Ms Tuoane previously served as a Lesotho Evangelical Church in Southern Africa (LECSA) leader in Thaba-Phatsoa, where she was credited with helping establish and develop the congregation.
The source said she left the position after disagreements emerged among some church leaders over fundraising practices and whether individual ministries should have greater responsibility for raising funds for their own development.
Several years later, she reportedly joined women from different churches who formed a prayer group.
However, LECSA has distanced itself from Ms Tuoane, saying she was never formally ordained or confirmed as one of its priests.
Speaking on behalf of LECSA in an interview with social media reporter Joseph Ntakha, Masilo Phate said Ms Tuoane had completed a priesthood course at the church but was only placed on probation and was never confirmed as a priest.
“We do not have a priest who was raped at the State House. She completed a priesthood course here at LECSA and was placed on priesthood probation. But due to differences she had with the church administration during that period, she was not confirmed as a priest,” Mr Phate said.
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