Bloemfontein - South African president Jacob Zuma is still engaged in a meeting with Lesotho Prime Minister Thomas Thabane and Deputy Prime Minister Mothetjoa Metsing in Pretoria.

According to various media reports, the Lesotho Defence Force has since confirmed disarming police but has denied that this was part of a coup.

Gunfire apparently erupted in Maseru around 03:00 on Saturday morning. The military took over police headquarters and also surrounded several other key points, including Thabane’s state home.

International Relations and Cooperation spokesperson Nelson Kgwete confirmed that the top level diplomatic meeting is still underway in Pretoria. He could not provide any further details at present.

It is believed that a Minister is currently acting as Prime Minister in Lesotho while both Thabane and his deputy are out of the country.

The mountain kingdom has been ruled by a coalition government since elections in 2012.

The coalition, which comprises the All Basotho Convention (ABC), the Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) and the Basotho National Party (BNP), is reportedly on shaky ground. Thabane is leader of the ABC, while his deputy Metsing is leader of the LCD. Metsing is rumoured to have been behind the alleged coup, an allegation he has denied in media reports.

Thabane suspended parliament in June this year, allegedly to prevent a motion of no-confidence against him from being tabled.

Meanwhile, South African based Gavin Hesketh, who commutes to Lesotho daily for work, told OFM News it appears to be business as usual. “We have been warned that there are no police around so we should be a bit more cautious, but otherwise it’s all calm here,” he says, adding he had no trouble crossing the border over the weekend or today.

A massive demonstration that was planned for today, when parliament was scheduled to reconvene, has apparently been cancelled.

Sabrina Dean/OFM News

The meeting comes after Thabane fled Lesotho in the early hours of Saturday morning over threats of a military coup.In addition, an EWN report says Thabane fired army chief Tlali Kamoli for his part in the coup and replaced him with Maaparankoe Mahao, who has apparently now gone into hiding after an alleged assassination attempt on Sunday.