What You Need to Know
Mohau Matele has been sentenced to 38 years in prison for the murder of Mahali Lekheloha, who he killed after she rejected his sexual advances. The High Court described the act as a brutal case of gender-based violence rooted in sexual entitlement. The court emphasized the need for a severe sentence to address such violence in society.
Africa-Press – Lesotho. A Thaba-Tseka man who stabbed a woman to death after she refused to have sex with him—despite his claim that he had bought her alcohol—has been sentenced to 38 years’ imprisonment, in a case the High Court described as a brutal act of gender-based violence rooted in sexual entitlement.
Mohau Matele of Mohlakeng was on Monday sentenced by High Court Judge Maliepollo Makhetha after being convicted of murdering Mahali Lekheloha on 5 June 2025.
Evidence before the court showed that Matele killed Lekheloha after she rejected his sexual advances following a day of drinking, during which he had bought her alcohol and expected sex in return.
The court heard that on the night of the murder, first state witness Ntsane Botsane was drinking with Thabo Motemekoane, the second state witness, who volunteered to accompany him home to Mohlakeng.
As they approached the area, Botsane testified that they noticed a pool of blood by the roadside and stopped to investigate.
“We approached the body and realised it was a woman. When we tried to turn her, we saw that she was still alive,” Botsane told the court.
He said they immediately called the police toll-free number and were advised by officers from Mokhotlong Police Station to rush the injured woman to hospital if she was still alive.
However, upon arrival at the hospital, a doctor examined the victim and confirmed that she had died. They were instructed to take the body to the mortuary, after which Motemekoane went to report the matter to the police.
Testifying under examination by Crown Counsel Advocate (Adv) Steve Thaba, Motemekoane told the court that while he was still reporting the incident at the police station, Matele arrived holding a hat in one hand and a knife in the other and openly confessed to killing a person.
“…While I was still reporting, the accused arrived holding a hat in one hand and a knife in the other and explained that he had killed a person,” Motemekoane testified.
He said Matele told police that he had spent the day drinking with the deceased, buying her alcohol, and that she had promised to sleep with him before changing her mind.
“Matele further stated that he had hired a motor vehicle to take them home and instructed the driver to drop him off with the deceased. After the vehicle drove off, the deceased refused to go with him and that is when he stabbed her with the knife and killed her,” Motemekoane said.
Adv Thaba led five witnesses in support of the state’s case. The defence, led by Advocate Rasekoai Thoahlane, called only Matele to testify.
In his defence, Matele denied killing Lekheloha, claiming he last saw her when she was dropped near her home in the company of his friend Mahlomola Kalaele, who was initially called as a fourth state witness but was later declared hostile.
Matele told the court that on the day in question he had been at Kalaele’s home helping to fix a car before the two went to Thaba-Tseka town.
He claimed that they later met the deceased along the way, spoke to her about Naledi Funeral Policies where she worked, and invited her to accompany them to town. He said they went to a public bar before returning to Mohlakeng, where Lekheloha was allegedly dropped near her home.
Matele further alleged that he later received a call from Detective Police Constable Monathane instructing him to report to the police station.
He claimed that upon arrival he was assaulted by police officers for four days and eventually confessed to the killing to save his life.
Police officers denied assaulting Matele, with Detective Police Constable Monathane’s testimony corroborated by that of Detective Police Constable Lelimo.
The court rejected Matele’s version of events and convicted him on 16 December 2025.
Passing sentence, Justice Makhetha said Matele had shown no remorse throughout the trial and described the killing as brutal and motivated by sexual entitlement.
“These were barbaric acts by the accused person, who slaughtered a woman simply because he had bought her alcohol and she refused to sleep with him,” Judge Makhetha said.
“This is a very serious case of gender-based violence. The accused deserves a prolonged sentence so that he is punished and rehabilitated before returning to society.”
Matele was sentenced to 38 years’ imprisonment without the option of a fine, and the knife used in the killing was ordered to be forfeited to the police and destroyed.
Lesotho has faced significant challenges regarding gender-based violence, with many cases often going unreported. The legal system has been criticized for its handling of such cases, leading to calls for reforms to better protect victims and hold perpetrators accountable. This case highlights the ongoing struggle against gender violence in the country, emphasizing the need for societal change and legal reform to address these issues effectively.
In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the impact of gender-based violence in Lesotho, prompting advocacy groups to push for stronger laws and support systems for victims. The government has been urged to take more decisive action to
