Scott Hospital in Morija. Photo © Retšelisitsoe Khabo
Mamello Mochesane
Management at Scott Hospital sat in silence as a medical waste contractor falsely identified itself to villagers at a public meeting convened to address the dumping of hazardous medical waste in their community. Only later did the hospital acknowledge that it had known the company’s true identity all along. This has intensified community concerns over transparency, accountability and the handling of an incident that left children exposed to used needles, syringes and contaminated medical instruments.
In August last year, just a few weeks after medical waste was dumped in Letlapeng village, Scott Hospital, a major regional hospital on the outskirts of Maseru, called a public meeting. The waste management contractor responsible for transporting waste from medical facilities in the region to Scott Hospital for incineration was at the meeting.
The owner of this waste management company introduced himself to villagers as David Molise and said he was from a company called “Letlotlo”. This company does not exist.
MNN can confirm that he is legally registered as David Sephiwe Mathizo. Records from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Business Development confirm that Tlokoeng Waste Management is registered in his name.
Months later, in October, MNN’s discovered this lie about the company name.
When MNN questioned the Manager of Hospital Nursing Services, Mankhala Lerotholi she admitted that hospital staff, including herself, at the gathering were aware of the lie during the meeting. They chose not to say anything, she told MNN, because the company owner was asked the question, not the hospital staff.
Lerotholi explained that she now has “no reservations” about naming Tlokoeng Waste Management as the company responsible for the illegal dumping of hazardous medical waste in Letlapeng village, Morija. This change of heart appears to have come about because the company had failed to co-operate with a plan to stop the illegal dumping and to reveal individuals responsible for the dumping.
Scott Hospital management says they were relying on Tlokoeng Waste Management to help identify individuals at the hospital and also at the company who facilitated this illegal dumping. The company, she said, stopped co-operating with this plan and stopped communicating with the hospital.
Meanwhile, in an interview with MNN, Tlokoeng owner, Mathizo, who has been collecting waste from pharmacies and clinics in the area and transporting it to Scott Hospital for incineration for the last three years, levelled accusations straight back at the hospital management and pharmacists. He told MNN that improper disposal happens when pharmacists fail to pay the company as agreed, or when hospital management issues instructions that lead to illegal dumping.
Lerotholi denied the accusations, saying this was the first incident reported to the hospital.
The Registrar of Companies, Monaheng Monaheng, confirmed that Tlokoeng is registered primarily for waste collection and non-hazardous waste disposal.
When MNN approached Tlokoeng’s owner, David Mathizo, about this he issued a chilling warning: “You can write, but leave my name out of this. Be aware that whatever you write will put you in danger.”
Dismissed symptoms
Thabiso Moleleki, a Letlapeng resident who discovered the medical waste dumped at two different locations, told MNN that he had burned some of it and then also alerted the hospital. Days later, he was horrified to see children still handling medical waste elsewhere in the village.
“It was everywhere,” he said. “And the children didn’t know the danger.”
Nine children were tested for diseases transmitted through bodily fluids. One tested positive for Hepatitis B.
Hospital officials suggested the infection may not be linked to the dumping, citing the virus’s incubation period and speculating that the child could have been infected through other means, including sexual abuse.
That explanation angered residents.
Motlalehi Letlaka, who has lived in Letlapeng for more than 30 years, rejected the claim, saying the hospital has been dumping waste in the village for years.
Other parents say their concerns were brushed aside. ‘Mamotšelisi Kutoana said three of her children were exposed to the waste. One child developed unusual restlessness that lasted for months.
“When I took the child to the hospital, they said it was just flu,” she said. “They refused to do further tests.”
Parents are also questioning the hospital’s response time.
MNN’s can confirm that children exposed to medical waste on 13 July were only called in for treatment on 15 July, a three-day delay.
According to World Health Organisation guidelines (2024), post-exposure prophylaxis is most effective when administered as soon as possible, ideally within 72 hours. For parents like Letlaka, that delay shattered trust.
“How can we believe they are protecting our children when they wait that long?” he asked.
Shifting blame
The scandal has fuelled allegations of corruption within Scott Hospital.
Letlaka believes hospital management is shielding staff involved in irregular disposal practices. Despite the severity of the incident, no hospital employees have been disciplined. “They are protecting someone. People are benefiting,” said Letlaka.
Parents seeking accountability reported similar intimidation. Letlaka said Mathizo referenced the death of his brother, allegedly linked to the famo gang groups, famously known for murders, to imply his connection with them.
Mathizo later denied issuing threats, saying he was grieving and had been misunderstood.
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