Background of the Office of the Ombudsman

  • The Office of the Ombudsman was established following the enactment of the Constitution of Lesotho in March 1993.
  • The first Ombudsman, Mr. Mohale Henry Nts’aba assumed duty on the 18th October, 1993.
  • Past Ombudsman include, Adv. Sekara Mafisa, Adv. Mats’oana N. A. Fanana KC,Adv. Leshele Thoahlane KC, Adv. Ts’eliso Mokoko.
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How does the Ombudsman work?

The Ombudsman receives and investigates complaints against public sector agencies. Looking at all sides of the complaint to establish that such complaints that such a complaint is justified.

Who can complain?

Any person, or group of persons who feel aggrieved by an action taken or not taken may complain to the Ombudsman.
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Who can be investigated?

Any department of government or any member of such a department, any statutory corporation or any person in the service of such a statutory corporation
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Who cannot be investigated

The Ombudsman may not investigate the King, Parliament, Cabinet, Courts of Law, Statutory Tribunals, the Public Service Commission, Private Companies and Private acts by individuals.

Adv. Tlotliso Polaki

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Adv. Tlotliso Polaki graduated from the National University of Lesotho and obtained a B.Comm (Accounting). She further continued with her studies and attained L.L.B and an L.L.M (Corporate) degree from the University of Natal, Durban and thereafter she was duly admitted as an Advocate of the High Courts of Lesotho and the High Courts of South Africa in 1997.

 

Following her admission, Adv. Tlotliso Polaki was appointed and served as a magistrate, at the Maseru Magistrate Court.  Her main role was to adjudicate over both criminal and civil matters within her area of jurisdiction and issue reasoned findings after hearing both parties, she had to determine the appropriateness of sentences meted out given the circumstances of each case.

 

She subsequently resigned and joined the private sector in South Africa in 2003, where she trained as a forensic investigator and worked for Gobodo Forensic Accounting (Pty)Ltd.  She has served in various capacities as legal counsel and senior legal advisor in reputed industries in particular the following institutions: Mvelaphanda Group, ZMS (Pty)Ltd, National Gambling Board of South Africa, the National Nuclear Regulator and most recently National Covid-19 Secretariat in Lesotho.  She was appointed as chairperson of the Teaching Service Tribunal in January 2019.  In June 2022, Adv. Tlotliso Polaki was appointed as the Ombudsman at the Office of the Ombudsman.

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