MASERU-Three men from Bela-Bela and Ha Letsoela in Berea appeared before the Berea Magistrate’s Court on Monday, accused of disturbing a grave in what police describe as a deeply troubling incident that has unsettled the local community.
The accused, Tsietsi “Koleba” Mojakisane, 41, of Bela-Bela; Tumo Nyaka, 31; and Relutse Tefo, 24, both of Ha Letsoela, are charged with tampering with a grave. Mojakisane faces an additional charge of escaping from police custody. The trio is scheduled to return to court on August 19, 2025.
According to Inspector Thomas Chaotsane, the head of the Mapoteng Criminal Investigation Division, the case began when police received reports that a corpse had been stolen from a grave in Bela-Bela. Investigations led officers to Mojakisane’s residence in Futhong, where they discovered a traditional trumpet often used in initiation schools. Inside, police allegedly found human remains, which Mojakisane admitted to exhuming from the Bela-Bela grave.
Inspector Chaotsane said police inquiries also linked Mojakisane to a hat found near the disturbed grave on the day of the incident. Following his arrest, Mojakisane allegedly led police to Nyaka and Tefo, who were also implicated in digging up the body.
The inspector condemned the act, warning communities against cultural practices or beliefs that lead to criminal activity. “We urge people to stop digging up graves in the belief that human body parts will bring wealth,” he said. “Families of the deceased should regularly inspect and maintain graves to detect and prevent such acts.”
Family members of the deceased expressed deep concern. Katleho Letsoela, a relative, called on the accused to reveal who sent them to carry out the act. “They must tell us the name of the so-called traditional healer who instructed them to take human remains,” he said. Letsoela added that several graves in the area had been tampered with, fueling suspicions that the accused may be involved in a broader pattern of grave desecration.
Local chief, Morena Boshoane Peete, confirmed that grave tampering has been reported in Ha ’Matsoai, Moeaneng, and Bela-Bela. In one case, graves were dug up from the foot end rather than the head, and in another, suspects fled before completing the act after being chased off by dogs.
Chief Peete expressed strong disapproval of the practice, particularly the involvement of some traditional healers in using human remains for rituals. “This causes great distress to bereaved families and creates tension within the community,” he said. “We expect justice to be served in this case.”
The matter is being prosecuted by Public Prosecutor Poka and is presided over by Magistrate Tlokotsi. The case has stirred outrage in Berea, where residents are calling for tighter security around cemeteries and harsher penalties for those who violate the sanctity of graves. As the accused await their next court appearance, community leaders and police alike are urging vigilance and an end to cultural practices that promote illegal and morally disturbing acts.
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