Life-Line pharmacy death mystery lands on DPP’s desk

…as police wrap up probe into former Lesotho Times production chief’s fatal pharmacy ordeal

Moorosi Tsiane

POLICE have completed investigations into the death of former Lesotho Times and Sunday Express Head of Production, Moletsane Makhabane, with the docket now before the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for a decision on possible prosecution.

Mr Makhabane walked into Life-Line Pharmaceutical Wholesalers and Distributors (Pty) Ltd in Maseru on 14 March 2026 seeking medical assistance, but never walked out.

What was reportedly meant to be a routine visit for medication and wound dressing allegedly turned into a fatal medical ordeal after an employee, Thabang Tloome, allegedly performed an unauthorised surgery to remove a lump from Mr Makhabane’s armpit.

Mr Makhabane, who was battling skin cancer, allegedly received an overdose of the anaesthetic ketamine during the procedure and subsequently died.

Nearly six months after his death, police have completed their investigation, leaving the DPP to determine whether anyone should face criminal prosecution.

Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) spokesperson Superintendent (Supt) Thabo Mohai confirmed to the Lesotho Times yesterday that the investigation had been concluded.

“The police have completed their investigations regarding this matter and the docket has been sent to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for directive. As for now, the police are waiting to hear feedback from the DPP as to whether there is a case to prosecute and against who,” said Supt Mohai.

The development brings renewed attention to a case that triggered regulatory action shortly after Mr Makhabane’s death.

Following the incident, Mr Tloome’s practising licence was suspended by the Lesotho Medical, Dental and Pharmacy Council (LMDPC), while Life-Line’s licence was also suspended.

The pharmacy later reopened after the Lesotho Medicines and Regulatory Authority (LEMERA) lifted its suspension, however, raising questions over the regulatory status of the facility and the individuals involved.

LMDPC Deputy President, Dr Kopang Mohalenyane, said the Council’s understanding was that both Mr Tloome and Life-Line owner Farooque Abdul Majid Solkar remained suspended.

He said the Council’s position followed findings that the pharmacy had allegedly operated beyond the scope of its licence.

“We were working on the matter with LEMERA and our investigations revealed that the pharmacy was operating beyond its scope of work and Tloome and Solkar’s licences were suspended pending the verdict from the court,” Dr Mohalenyane said.

He said the ultimate fate of the licences would depend on the outcome of the criminal proceedings.

“If the court finds there is no case, the suspension will be uplifted, but if found guilty, they will have to complete deregistration or revocation of licences,” he said.

Dr Mohalenyane said the Council was subsequently surprised to discover that the pharmacy had reopened.

According to him, Council officials visited the premises and found workers partitioning the building after they were allegedly informed that the facility could operate as a wholesale business, but not as a retail pharmacy under the same arrangement.

“We are not expecting them to operate as a retail while registered as a wholesale,” he said.

He said the Council’s main concern remained the individuals allegedly involved in the procedure and the owner of the facility.

“The truth of the matter is if the licence registered with is suspended, they are not allowed to run the facility. This means we will also have to make another follow-up to understand how they are operating,” Dr Mohalenyane said.

He added that the Council would also establish whether other pharmacies were operating under the same licence and whether they too should have been closed.

The Council’s suspensions, he said, followed interviews with Messrs Tloome and Solkar and findings that the facility had operated beyond the permitted scope of a pharmacy.

Life-Line, however, has disputed any suggestion that its reopening was unlawful.

Its legal representative, Advocate Rethabile Setlojoane, said the pharmacy had engaged the relevant authorities and complied with instructions issued by LEMERA.

“We engaged with the authorities and it was reinstated. The due process was not followed and we were asked to comply, which we did, and the suspension was lifted,” Adv Setlojoane said.

He further argued that the Council did not have the authority to suspend the pharmacy itself, saying its mandate primarily concerned individual practitioners.

“The decision to suspend the pharmacy doesn’t lie with the Council as theirs is to deal with doctors,” he said.

LEMERA, meanwhile, has clarified the division of regulatory responsibilities, saying it regulates pharmacies while the LMDPC regulates individual medical practitioners.

The Authority said the distinction was important in understanding the regulatory action taken against Life-Line following Mr Makhabane’s death.

LEMERA said it became aware of the incident through media reports and subsequently conducted an inspection of the pharmacy, resulting in its closure on the day of the inspection.

“We saw the story in a newspaper and we went and inspected the pharmacy and we closed it that day,” said an official from the Authority who requested anonymity.

According to the Authority, the pharmacy later approached it seeking permission to reopen, with the matter subsequently referred to the LEMERA Board for consideration.

“The case was brought to the Board, which dealt with the matter. The Board assessed it and ordered the pharmacy to operate as a wholesale and not operate on people,” the official said.

LEMERA said the Board considered several factors before reaching its decision, including the pharmacy’s role in the local medicines supply chain.

Life-Line is reportedly one of only two pharmacies in Lesotho that directly imports medicines from India.

“During that time when it was closed there was a shortage of medicines and other pharmacies increased the prices, so there were many factors that the Board had to consider,” the official said.

The Board subsequently allowed the facility to operate as a wholesale pharmacy, while warning that any further wrongdoing could result in its permanent closure.

“The Board warned it and if it is found in any wrongdoing it will be closed permanently,” the official said.

The Board also directed the pharmacy to have a Mosotho shareholder.

LEMERA said it would continue conducting inspections to ensure that Life-Line complies with the conditions imposed by the Board.

“We are going to continue inspecting it, but currently it has adhered to instructions. Even a pharmacist is a Mosotho,” the Authority said.

However, LEMERA stressed that any disciplinary action against the pharmacist as an individual practitioner falls under the jurisdiction of the LMDPC.

“As for what should be done to the pharmacist, it is the Council that regulates the practitioners,” said the LEMERA official.

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