Tšolo Thakeli
Tšolo Thakeli | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1994 |
| Nationality | Mosotho |
| Other names | Tjekatjeka |
| Education | LLB, 2015 |
| Occupation(s) | Human rights activist, lawyer |
| Known for | Youth unemployment activism, "#HelpMeFindWork" |
Tšolo "Tjekatjeka" Thakeli (born c. 1994) is a Mosotho human rights activist.
Biography
Thakeli qualified as a lawyer after graduating with a LLB in 2015.[1][2] He stated he had struggled to find employment after finishing his studies, and worked as a garage attendant in Teyateyaneng.[2]
Thakeli is a long-term campaigner on the issue of youth unemployment in Lesotho. In 2016, he staged a one-man protest outside the Parliament of Lesotho in Maseru to raise attention to the issue during the tenure of then-Prime Minister, Pakalitha Mosisili.[1] Thakeli also started the social media campaign "#HelpMeFindWork" to raise awareness of youth unemployment among government authorities and non-governmental organisations.[2]
On 13 June 2025, Thakeli posted a video online in which he complained about Lesotho's unemployment rate and criticised Sam Matekane, the Prime Minister, for not delivering on a campaign promise to create 70, 000 new jobs despite being three years into his tenure. Thakeli queried why there was no provision for job creation in the government's February budget.[1] In the video, Thakeli also commented on alleged corruption within the Lesotho Electricity Company.[3]
The following day, Thakeli's home in Teyateyaneng, Berea District, was stormed by police, and he was arrested without warrant.[4] He was initially charged with insulting Matekane and inciting violence, but the charges were dropped due to there being insufficient evidence. After being released, Thakeli was arrested later that same day on a new charge of sedition. He was detained for two days before being released; during that time, Thakeli alleged that he had been told by the head of the Lesotho Mounted Police Service to not mention Matekane's name publicly again.[1]
Thakeli's arrest triggered protests in Lesotho's capital, Maseru.[1] He was presented in court at Berea Magistrates' Court in Teyateyaneng on 4 July on charges of inciting public violence and disturbing the peace.[3][5]
Action for Southern Africa described the response to Thakeli's video as "terrifying", noting that Thakeli had not called for Matekane's resignation but was "just asking [a] question", noting that freedom of expression was protected by the constitution of Lesotho.[1][4] The national newspaper The Post stated that Thakeli had acted within his constitutionally and internationally recognised rights to criticise government officials.[5]
References
- ^ a b c d e f Ahmed, Kaamil (30 June 2025). "Lesotho activist arrested after video on unemployment rates angers prime minister". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 7 July 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ a b c Sera, Relebohile (9 August 2017). "Jobless by Choice? Ts'olo Thakeli Shares on this Predicament and the #HelpMeFindWork Campaign". Selibeng. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ a b "Arbitrary arrest of social media activist signals deterioration of Enabling Environment". EU See. 4 July 2025. Archived from the original on 11 August 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ a b Haruzivishe, Makomborero (25 June 2025). "Lesotho - Statement of Solidarity for T'solo Thakeli". Action for Southern Africa. Archived from the original on 26 June 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ a b "The right to free speech". The Post. 23 June 2025. Archived from the original on 17 July 2025. Retrieved 16 August 2025.