Pretoria – The “decisive actions” taken by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) organ on Peace and Security to deal with the political crisis in Lesotho has been welcomed by Cabinet.
Following reports of a coup in the country at the weekend, the SADC Troika met with the coalition government in Pretoria on Monday.
The coalition consisted of Prime Minister Thomas Thabane, the Deputy Prime Minister Mothetjoa Metsing and Morena T J Maseribane, Minister of Gender and Youth, Sports and Recreation.
SADC, at the meeting, agreed to send a facilitator to Lesotho to work with the Coalition Government as they implement the agreed roadmap.
It further agreed to deploy an Observer Team on Politics, Defence and Security as a matter of urgency.
President Jacob Zuma called the meeting in his capacity as the chair of the SADC organ on politics and defence.
Minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Jeff Radebe, said at Cabinet’s ordinary meeting in Cape Town this week, Cabinet had welcomed the actions.
“Cabinet … reiterates its unconditional support for the SADC position that rejects all attempts to unconstitutional changes of government,” he said.
The Minister said Cabinet called on all role players to work together to restore democratic order in Lesotho and fully implement the Road Map agreed with the SADC organ.
He also confirmed that members of the South African National Police Service (SAPS) were guarding Prime Minister Thabane, who had returned to the country after fleeing to South Africa.
Minister Radebe said they had been deployed as per the National Police Act. - SAnews.gov.za
