MASERU
The Commission of Inquiry began hearing testimonies at Maseru Central Prison on Monday morning. The Commission whose mandate is to investigate the conditions that led to the escape and ill treatment of inmates during the search operation at Central Prison in December last year is chaired by Justice Realeboha Mathaba.
Minister of Justice, Richard Ramoeletsi who testified told the commission that the video footage displaying the incidents of December 21 and 22 indicate that inmates were tortured motiveless. He further said the conditions in most of Lesotho’s prisons are merciless and inhabitable.
He mentioned that most prisons are congested due to the slow pace of justice. An example is the Maseru prison that has 679 inmates, of which 21% are imprisoned and 7% are awaiting trial. Ramoeletsi told the commission that 114 LCS recruits were unleashed on the inmates “with an instruction to probably inflict pain on inmates.”
Correctional Services Commissioner, Mating Nkakala, in his testimony, shocked everyone admitting that warders sometimes brutally torture inmates for breaking rules. Nkakala said torture is a custom in prison regardless of the fact that he had issued a circular in November 2023 banning it. He admitted that women prisoners are not exceptional.
He stated, that lately he has received worrying reports from Mokhotlong and Maseru Correctional facilities of inmates who are usually abused by the warders who are supposed to take care of them. He said 15 warders were disciplined and seven laid off for beat up inmates in 2023. Nkakala said inmates are brutally assaulted for crimes such as smuggling dagga and cigarettes they get from visitors or illegal imports from warders they receive as gifts.
Nkakala said some inmates staying at the LCS’ farm in Lepereng were brutality battered on 18th December 2023. He said he only learnt about the beating two weeks later, as officers hid it from him. He said his Deputy Matingoe Phamotse told him that there was a raid conducted by recruits at Lepereng who found a lot of smuggled goods. He said prisoners had political party t-shirts. Nkakala said anything bearing emblems of a political party is not allowed.
He said his officers never told him the truth about the beating of the inmates. In regard to prisoners that absconded last year, Nkakala said Deputy Commissioner Mosheoane Tšolo told him that six inmates had run-away. He said he instantly reported the matter to the Minister of Justice Richard Ramoeletsi.
Nkakala said Tšolo told him that two inmates, Makhikila Tlali and Aumane Nkoale were found next to the Police Training College and he was shown the two back in custody. He said Seboka Motumi and Bokang Tsoako were later arrested and Tsoako was killed later. Nkakala said, “I was told that Tsoako was assaulted.” He said he instantly ordered the station commander to take Tsoako to a health facility.
Nkakala said Tsoako had numerous wounds all over his body and his feet were bleeding feet. He said an explanation he received was that Tsoako was hiding in a ceiling which collapsed due to his weight and he sustained those injuries when he fell.
Nkakala said a day after the escape he received a report that inmates were brutally assaulted and upon his arrival he found 47 inmates critically injured. Justice Mathaba questioned Nkakala over lack of strategic plan for the LCS. He said Lesotho Correctional Services Act dictates the commissioner to draft policies for the organisation. Nkakala defended himself by saying they were at the verge of engaging a consultant to help draw up strategies for the LCS.
Justice Mathaba said, “Normally consultants do not do everything, they just facilitate, meaning you have to have a vision as a leader.” When asked about the period in which the facility has been operating without strategic plan, Nkakala said the last time it was done was in 2010.
Justice Mathaba asked Nkakala if he had received any training before getting into high office but Nkakala said in as much as it is their desire for every officer to get training and attend workshops on their elevation to the next rank, due to budget restrictions they are not able to get such training.
Justice Mathaba said most of problems Nkakala had mentioned show that there is no co-operation and there is lack of leadership. Nkakala admitted that there are separations among the staff and some support him while some do not.
