South Africa, Sept. 12 -- On 29 August, Mohalenyane Phakela was detained after the agency accused him of posing as one of its officers to obtain documents for a story on corruption.

The story implicated Lesotho Correctional Service Commissioner Mating Nkakala in the alleged theft of three plasma televisions donated by Maseru Toyota in 2022. The DCEO had been investigating the case.

Phakela was arrested late on a Friday. Near midnight, after seven hours of questioning at DCEO, Phakela was taken to Maseru Central Charge Office. His phones were confiscated, and he was held overnight.

Phakela recounted the ordeal to GroundUp: "They accused me of impersonating a DCEO officer when I sourced information from Maseru Toyota. I showed them proof...