Maseru __ The government of Lesotho has strongly refuted allegations by South African Minister of Minerals and Petroleum Resources Mr. Gwede Mantashe that Prime Minister Ntsokoane Matekane had a meeting with Lesotho illegal miners in Bloemfontein over the weekend.

Minister Mantashe told the Portfolio Committee on Mineral and Petroleum Resources on Tuesday that he was aware of a meeting allegedly organised by the Prime Minister Matekane in Bloemfontein without proper state protocols claiming authorities were not informed of a head of state visiting South Africa.

In a statement, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Mr. Limpho Tau said it is not true and these are baseless accusations that the Prime Minister met with illegal miners saying the meeting was with Basotho in diaspora who are Revolution For Prosperity (RFP) instead.

He indicated that prior to the meeting, proper arrangements were made with Bloemfontein government adding that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations on February 20th, a day before the meeting informed their South African counterparts through the note verbal and security agencies of the two countries deliberated on that.

"It is surprising and embarrassing that when the Prime Minister's meeting was known and approved by the Bloemfontein government, Mantashe belittles and disrespects him (Prime Minister)," he said.

He noted that they are surprised that Mr. Mantashe is doing this despite the support that Lesotho granted to African National Congress (ANC) and its leaders during the apartheid era.

He further indicated that they expect the government of South Africa does not condone this and distances itself from these allegations and assure them that Minister Mantashe made these allegations on his own capacity and not on behalf of the government of South Africa.

He assured that the government of Lesotho will continue maintaining their bilateral and mutual relations with South Africa.