‘We are also victims of a sadistic system at LCS’

. . . former recruits open up and plead for mercy

’MATHATO SEBOKA

MASERU – Former recruits, now correctional officers, this week sat in sombre reflection as they recounted the dark days that led to the brutal assaults on inmates at the Maseru Central Correctional Institution (MCCI) last year.  The bitter memories of their time at the Correctional Services Training School (CSTS) flooded their minds, as they described how their humanity was eroded under the harsh and dehumanising conditions of the training facility.

On December 23, 2023, they crossed a line, acting not as guardians of justice but as the embodiment of the cruelty they had endured. The day would remain etched in shame, as the officers turned their frustrations and anguish against the very inmates they have sworn to protect. Kosi Hlalele, one of the officers involved in the assault, this week painted a grim picture of the conditions at CSTS.

“We were treated like infants,” he said, his voice trembling with a mixture of anger and shame. “They stripped us of everything we knew, made us unlearn who we were. By the time we arrived here, we were operating with a child’s mentality.” Hlalele’s words echoed a deep sense of regret and frustration, as he explained how the senior officers — their supposed protectors —stood by and watched as the young recruits were moulded into instruments of violence.

“Our parents, the senior officers, were there, but they did nothing to stop us. They should have intervened. What happened here was horrific.” The Commission, led by High Court Judge Realeboha Mathaba, listened intently as Hlalele pleaded for leniency. “Please, when you make your recommendations, consider that we were turned into children at CSTS. Do not be too harsh on us.” Lehlohonolo Lebese, another officer involved in the assaults, expressed deep remorse for his actions.

“I am not proud of what we did,” he admitted, his voice heavy with guilt. “At the time, we did not see it. We had lost our sense of humanity. The things we were subjected to made us believe that pain and cruelty were the norms.” Lebese recounted the bizzare rituals that their superiors seemed to relish.

“They would rejoice in our suffering. If one of us cried, they would take off their hats and say it had been a good day.”  These experiences, he believes, were at the root of the assaults that followed. “When you have endured so much pain for so long, you start to believe that it is the only way to survive,” he added.

The chilling testimony shed light on the toxic culture within CSTS, where brutality and humiliation were seen as tools to toughen recruits.  However, as Lebese pointed out, the training designed to protect society ultimately warped the minds of those tasked with upholding the law.  “We were recruits, living in those conditions. We did not realise how wrong it was until we returned home. Now we see that it should never have happened.”

The Commission’s inquiry, held at the MCCI, seeks to uncover the truth behind the tragic events of December 21, 2023, when six inmates escaped from the facility. During the subsequent recapture, one inmate lost his life while another sustained severe injuries. Those who remained behind were subjected to violent retribution by the officers.

This dark chapter in the history of the Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) underscores the deep-seated issues within the institution. Years of neglect, lack of resources, and inadequate procedures have created an environment where both officers and inmates are caught in a vicious cycle of violence and despair. The events of December 22, 2023, serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for reform within the LCS.

The testimony provided by Hlalele and Lebese paints a grim picture of an institution in crisis, where those entrusted with the safety of others are themselves victims of a broken system. As the Commission continues its investigation, led by Judge Mathaba and supported by members like King’s Counsel (KC) Kelebone Maope and retired LCS Commissioner Mojalefa Thulo, the hope is that their findings will pave the way for lasting change.