Johannesburg – Nine people are in custody in South Africa over last month‘s attempt to assassinate Lesotho Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili, police said yesterday.

Six of them were arrested within 24 hours of the military-style attack at Mosisili‘s residence on April 22, said police Director Sally de Beer. Three more had since been arrested, she said.

Four gunmen died in a shootout with soldiers during the attack.

One of the men arrested, Makotoko Lerotholi, appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate‘s Court on May 8. The case was postponed until June 9 and he remains in custody pending the process to extradite him to Lesotho.

De Beer said most of the others arrested were in custody in the Free State. Their court appearance dates were not immediately known. They would also be subject to the extradition process.

At the time of Lerotholi‘s arrest, it was claimed he had handed himself over to the police for protection, fearing someone was trying to kill him. Denying this, police said he was arrested in a crime intelligence operation.

While Lerotholi has denied involvement in the attacks, it is understood that Lesotho authorities are keen to question him. He has indicated he intends opposing the extradition.

The attack on Mosisili is reportedly the latest in a string of attacks on Lesotho‘s political leaders since its disputed 2007 election.

Lerotholi, who was the opposition leader‘s bodyguard, apparently fled to South Africa after being tried over attacks that took place in 2007. – Sapa