17 January 2025 by Limpho Sello

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The Lesotho Catholic Bishops Conference (LCBC) has placed Joalane Mokoena, the Manager of Mamohau Mission Hospital, on indefinite suspension effective December 4, 2024.

Sources within the hospital confirmed the development to Uncensored News on January 14, 2025.

“She was suspended along with the board on December 4, 2024. This will remain in effect until the investigation is concluded,” a source revealed.

In Mokoena’s absence, LCBC Senior Accountant Thabo Maja has stepped in as Acting Hospital Manager.

Maja indirectly confirmed the suspension during a phone interview on January 15, 2025.

“What has been done is to conduct an investigation following the suspension of ‘m’e (Mokoena). The investigations are ongoing,” Maja told Uncensored News.

Repeated attempts to obtain a comment from Mokoena were unsuccessful at the time of publication. Calls to her phone went unanswered, and while a blue tick notification showed that she read WhatsApp messages sent to her, she did not respond.

Mokoena’s suspension follows a formal complaint submitted by hospital staff to Bishop Tumaole Bane (O.M.I) on September 8, 2024. The staff accused Mokoena of exploitation, victimisation, and corruption.

In the letter, the staff alleged, “We are bringing to your attention that drivers are forced to pay damages for such incidence which leads to deductions of money amounting to LSL30,000 and above from their little earning.

“There is also an incidence whereby one junior accountant was forced by Ms. Mokuena to take a loan to pay LSL50,000 amount of money that disappeared even before that official occupies the office and the rumour has it that the money was used by Ms. Mokoena when she was at school because Ms. Mokoena still calls shorts and run the hospital even when she is on study leave,” read the letter dated September 8, 2024.

Meanwhile, an internal source disclosed that employees were instructed to keep Mokoena’s suspension confidential.

“We were advised not to share any information until the investigations are complete. However, since her suspension, the work environment has significantly improved,” the source added.

On his part, Maja explained that his terms require him to consult his superiors before addressing media inquiries.

“I cannot comment further without first reporting to my seniors for approval. The allegations against Ms. Mokoena are still under investigation, and discussing them now could compromise the process,” he said.

He emphasised the importance of awaiting the investigation’s findings.

“Once the investigations are finalised, a clearer statement will be issued. For now, discussing unverified allegations would be premature,” Maja concluded.