S. African deputy president denies alleged personal interest in Lesotho

South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday denied allegations that he mediates political disputes in Lesotho for the sake of his personal interest in the kingdom.

During a Q&A session in Parliament, Ramaphosa, who was appointed by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) as facilitator to Lesotho, was grilled by MPs of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) over the role he has played in Lesotho.

Ramaphosa has undertaken a series of peace missions to Lesotho since September last year following an aborted coup in the kingdom.

The EFF alleges that Ramaphosa agreed to mediate in Lesotho in the hope of benefiting from the water project between South Africa and the mountain kingdom.

In response to the allegations, Ramaphosa said he had no personal interest in Lesotho, and that he has merely been doing what's requested of him by the SADC.

Under Ramaphosa's mediation, Lesotho held early elections in late February following an attempted coup in August last year.

Currently, Ramaphosa is overseeing efforts to push all political stakeholders to urgently undertake constitutional and security reforms after the death of Lesotho's former army commander Maaparankoe Maho.

Maho was murdered in late June after being sacked by Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili who won the February elections. His death has plunged Lesotho into political uncertainty.

The SADC-appointed Commission of Inquiry is currently in Lesotho to investigate the death of Maho. Endite