Tortured inmate reveals list of his assailants

’MATHATO SEBOKA

MASERU — Captain Litekanyo Nyakane of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF), currently an inmate at the Maseru Correctional Institution (MCCI), has made serious allegations about a list of recruits who allegedly assaulted him during a December 22, 2023, search at the prison facility. According to Nyakane, it was the then recruit, ’Molaoa Mathabeng, who provided him with the list of those involved.

In his initial testimony to the commission of inquiry, Nyakane stated unequivocally that Mathabeng was the source of the list. This claim was further supported by Sergeant Peo, who confirmed that a meeting took place between Mathabeng and Nyakane regarding the recruits’ list.

During cross-examination, Peo noted that Mathabeng had met with Nyakane on December 26, 2023. “You met Nyakane the same day immediately after I informed you of his request,” Peo asserted. Mathabeng, however, contested this assertion during his testimony before the Commission of Inquiry chaired by High Court Judge Realeboha Mathaba.

He acknowledged receiving the message from Peo about Nyakane’s request but vehemently denied meeting Nyakane that day or providing him with any list. “While I received a message about a proposed meeting from Nyakane, I did not meet him on December 26, 2023, nor did I give him any list of recruits,” he stated.

Mathabeng explained that following the escape of inmates on December 21, 2023 at the MCCI 125 male recruits were deployed to reinforce security, working in shifts to cover various times of day.

On December 26, Mathabeng was assigned to duties outside the facility and at the towers, which he said precluded him from interacting with inmates.

“I was stationed at C Tower that day, and after my shift, I went to the Maximum Block to collect contributions from recruits for food,” Mathabeng recalled.

“It was there that I encountered Sergeant Peo, who informed me of Nyakane’s request for a meeting. I explained to Peo that my duties prevented me from engaging with inmates and suggested that if it was a personal matter, he should relay it himself.” Mathabeng expressed astonishment at Peo’s conduct, questioning how a senior sergeant could facilitate such requests.

“I told Peo that facilitating such a request was highly inappropriate for someone of his rank,” he said. Fearing repercussions, Mathabeng confided in a fellow recruit, Sekokotoana, and together they decided to report the issue to Chief Officer Ratšele, their instructor at the time, to prevent any further complications.

The issue was subsequently reported to Assistant Commissioner Lipholo Nthako, the commandant at the Correctional Staff Training School (CSTS), who interviewed Mathabeng and Sekokotoana to hear their side of the story.

In the weeks following, an Ombudsman investigation into the escape and assaults was conducted. Mathabeng used this opportunity to caution fellow recruits about the importance of not betraying each other, saying that he had not provided any names to Nyakane.

On April 26, 2024, during the recruits’ pass-out ceremony, Mathabeng, now re-deployed to MCCI, again encountered Nyakane. While their conversation covered various topics, the request for names resurfaced. “I reiterated to Nyakane that sharing such information was impossible and against our principles,” Mathabeng said.

Judge Mathaba questioned Mathabeng about the Ombudsman’s investigation, specifically whether recruits had betrayed each other. Mathabeng assured the judge that recruits had remained loyal, as evidenced by the final report, which listed 114 recruits without specifying who had implicated whom.

“The recruits maintained their integrity, and the report reflected that,” Mathabeng confirmed. Nthako’s testimony included his receipt of the report from Ratšele. However, Ratšele did not mention any complaints from recruits about Nyakane’s request for the names of those who had assaulted him.

The ongoing inquiry continues to delve into the complex issues surrounding the alleged assault, the conduct of various officers, and the procedures followed during the investigation. The testimonies reveal a web of interactions and claims that the commission will need to unravel to reach a conclusion.