Michael Mathealira Ramodibedi (24 April 1945 – 15 August 2019) was a jurist from Lesotho who has served on the courts of several Commonwealth countries in Africa.
[4] In that capacity, he advocated for procedural improvements in record-keeping as well as the appointment of more judges who were ordinarily resident in Seychelles.
A statement from Law Society executive secretary expressed concern "about his warped sense of justice and democracy whose influence may find their way into our jurisprudence".
Lorraine Hlophe of the Judicial Service Commission was quoted as stating, "Swazis were considered for the position of Chief Justice, but none of them merited appointment to the post.".
However, Public Eye suggested that this decision might be related to the apparent power struggle between Ramodibedi and Chief Justice Mahapela Lehohla.
He attributed this to the High Court's alleged long delays in delivering judgments, and further criticised the High Court for its refusal to make judges follow a monthly schedule of dates for case hearings and issuance of judgments, as was the practice in Botswana and Swaziland.
[13] The government of Lesotho also expressed concern about Ramodibedi's role in Swaziland; Justice Minister Mophato Monyake stated that Ramodibedi's "public display of affiliation to an absolute monarch plainly undermines the public perception of judicial independence" in Lesotho.
The government formed a tribunal to consider the question of whether he should be removed, comprising retired South African judges Zak Yacoob, Meyer Joffe, and Yvonne Mokgoro as members.