Lesotho Case Law

Lesotho Association of Non-Formal Education V Women Going Beyond & Ano. (C of A (CIV) No.37/2025)

Lesotho Association of Non-Formal Education V Women Going Beyond & Ano. (C of A (CIV) No.37/2025) [2025] LSCA 61 (7 November 2025)

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

C of A (CIV) No.37/2025

The High Court misdirected itself by refusing rescission solely on procedural lateness without assessing good cause and prospects of success. The Court of Appeal found that the absence of a formal condonation application was not fatal and that the matter should be remitted for a hearing on the merits.

Source excerpt

• Rescission of default judgment
• Condonation for late filing
• Power of attorney
• Judicial discretion

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Khatala v Commissioner of Correctional Service (C of A No. 45/2021)

Khatala v Commissioner of Correctional Service (C of A No. 45/2021) [2022] LSCA 13 (13 May 2022)

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

C of A No. 45/2021

The Court of Appeal of Lesotho dismissed a condonation application after an eight-year delay in noting an appeal and struck the appeal from the roll with costs.

• Condonation for late filing
• Legitimate expectation
• Reinstatement
• Salary arrears
• Judicial discretion
• Condonation-for-late-filing

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Smith v Ts'epong Proprietary Limited (C of A (CIV) 22 of 2020)

Smith v Ts'epong Proprietary Limited (C of A (CIV) 22 of 2020) [2021] LSCA 11 (14 May 2021)

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

C of A (CIV) 22 of 2020

The Court of Appeal dismissed condonation for a late appeal, holding the eight-month delay after awareness of non-compliance was unexplained and flagrant.

• Judicial management
• Condonation for late filing
• Directors' authority
• Appeal procedure
• Condonation-for-late-filing
• Late-notice-of-appeal

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Rantle v Methodist Church of Southern Africa and Others (LC/A 2016)

Rantle v Methodist Church of Southern Africa and Others (LC/A 2016) [2016] LSHC 11 (21 November 2016)

Court

High Court

Case number

LC/A 2016

The Land Court struck off an appeal after finding no adequate explanation for late filing and holding that the appellant remained in contempt of the order under appeal.

• Condonation for late filing
• Stay of execution
• Contempt of court
• Ownership of land
• Appeal procedure
• Condonation-for-late-filing

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Falten v Rex (C of A (CRI) 4 of 2012)

Falten v Rex (C of A (CRI) 4 of 2012) [2015] LSCA 44 (6 November 2015)

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

C of A (CRI) 4 of 2012

The Court of Appeal of Lesotho granted condonation for a late criminal appeal but dismissed the sentence appeal, upholding 18 years for murder as not excessive.

• Appeal against sentence
• Condonation for late filing
• Sentencing discretion
• Murder
• Attempted murder
• Criminal-appeal

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Molapo v Ok Bazaars (Pty) Ltd t/a Shoprite and Another (LC/REV 104 of 2013)

Molapo v Ok Bazaars (Pty) Ltd t/a Shoprite and Another (LC/REV 104 of 2013) [2015] LSLC 14 (11 February 2015)

Court

Labour Court

Case number

LC/REV 104 of 2013

The Labour Court granted condonation for a late review, but refused the review itself because the initial award had been rescinded and the disputed evidence was not before the arbitrator.

• Review of arbitration award
• Condonation for late filing
• Res judicata
• Evidence admissibility
• Labour-law
• Judicial-review

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Moeketsi v Edcon t/a Jet Stores and Another (LC/REV 5 of 2013)

Moeketsi v Edcon t/a Jet Stores and Another (LC/REV 5 of 2013) [2014] LSLC 38 (15 September 2014)

Court

Labour Court

Case number

LC/REV 5 of 2013

The Labour Court refused condonation for a late review application, holding that the applicant had no prospects of success because the review grounds were raised for the first time on review.

• Condonation for late filing
• Jurisdiction
• Review of arbitration award
• Condonation
• Review-of-arbitration-award
• Late-filing

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Mamaphoesa Hoohlo v Mphekeleli Hoohlo (C of A (CIV) 41 of 12)

Mamaphoesa Hoohlo v Mphekeleli Hoohlo (C of A (CIV) 41 of 12) [2014] LSCA 7 (17 April 2014)

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

C of A (CIV) 41 of 12

The Court of Appeal set aside a committal order for alleged contempt over child access, holding the High Court failed to resolve disputed facts before jailing the mother.

• Child access
• Contempt of court
• Committal to prison
• Condonation for late filing
• Child-access
• Contempt-of-court

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Makhumala Evelyn Hlekwayo v Mountain Star Lodge (Pty) Ltd and Another (LC/REV 19 of 2013)

Makhumala Evelyn Hlekwayo v Mountain Star Lodge (Pty) Ltd and Another (LC/REV 19 of 2013) [2014] LSLC 9 (20 March 2014)

Court

Labour Court

Case number

LC/REV 19 of 2013

The Labour Court of Lesotho refused review of a default arbitration award, holding that section 227(8) did not bar evidence from being heard before granting default relief.

• Review of arbitration award
• Default judgment
• Condonation for late filing
• Interpretation of labour code section 227(8)
• Labour-law
• Arbitration-review

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Molahli Edwin Molahli v Morija Press Board andAnother (A 621 of 2011)

Molahli Edwin Molahli v Morija Press Board andAnother (A 621 of 2011) [2013] LSLC 74 (28 October 2013)

Court

Labour Court

Case number

A 621 of 2011

Labour Court of Lesotho refused condonation for late answering papers and dismissed a review of an arbitral award arising from an unfair dismissal dispute.

• Review of arbitral award
• Condonation for late filing
• Unfair dismissal
• Procedural fairness
• Substantive fairness
• Labour-law

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