We only beat up the stubborn ones: recruit

’MATHATO SEBOKA

MASERU – The tension in the courtroom was palpable last week as one by one, recruits from the Lesotho Correctional Services (LCS) stood before the commission of inquiry, recounting the events of December 22, 2023. Echoes of violence against inmates within the walls of the Maseru Central Correctional Institution (MCCI) reverberated in the courtroom, each word cutting deeper into the disturbing reality that unfolded behind bars.

For months, the recruits had remained tight-lipped, but the weight of their silence began to crack. Most were now falling in line, admitting their involvement in the brutal assault of inmates on that fateful day. Yet, some still clung to denial, their voices distant echoes in a sea of confessions.

Whether they had directly participated in the violence or stood by, indifferent, their presence on that day had left an indelible mark on the prison and its inhabitants. Among those testifying was Khosi Hlalele, a name now tied to that dark day. His testimony on Tuesday last week began with a chilling recount of how the day unfolded. According to him, the violence began even before they reached the prison. “That morning, some recruits went back to Pioneer Mall to gather sticks from the trees nearby,” Hlalele explained. “We were told that we were here to search the inmates.”

The eerie calm of that morning was quickly shattered as the recruits, armed with makeshift weapons, descended upon the MCCI. Chief Officer Tololi Ratšele, a key figure in the events, had allocated the recruits to search Blocks A and C. Hlalele, assigned to Block C, recounted his own actions.  “I was among those who searched Block C,” he testified. “Around cells 37, 38, 39, and 40, I chastised some inmates, using slaps at the back with my hands, but not in a manner that could harm them.”

His words seemed to downplay the gravity of his actions, as if trying to diminish the impact of the violence that had taken place.

As the search continued, the cries of inmates echoed through the corridors. “Inmates were still crying from several cells,” Hlalele conceded. “Even though I do not remember whether there were any inmates assaulted in the corridor, those cries were loud enough that they should have been heard.” The chilling sounds of suffering reverberated through the prison, a haunting soundtrack to the unfolding violence.

After completing the search in Block C, the recruits were again allocated to search Maximum and Block B and Hlalele was among those sent to Block B.  “I was one of the first people who went in,” he said, “but I did not take a long time there.” His words were clipped, as though rushing through the memory, avoiding lingering on the details that might expose more than he was willing to admit.

In Block D, Hlalele encountered an inmate named Sentle Sihle Sekantsi. Their brief interaction ended when a whistle blew, signalling the end of their search.  Yet, during cross-examination, Hlalele’s actions were called into question. Justice Realeboha Mathaba who spearheads the commission asked him about Sihle’s testimony, which had implicated Hlalele in an attempted assault.

“Sihle said you came to his cell after they were searched; you attempted to assault him, but your stick did not land on him,” the judge pressed. Hlalele denied the accusation, insisting he had entered the cell but had not attempted to assault Sihle.

It was a recurring theme in his testimony: denial interspersed with partial admissions. He acknowledged the presence of violence but distanced himself from its most brutal acts. “Some of the soldier inmates implicated me because they saw me in the corridor,” Hlalele explained. “They mentioned my name, hoping I would reveal the names of the recruits who assaulted them.” His defense was one of selective memory and he claimed the inmates were conspiring against him.

“What I think is that they do not know all the people who assaulted them,” he argued, painting himself as a scapegoat in a broader conspiracy. Yet, his admission that he had indeed assaulted inmates cast a shadow over his denials.  “The ones I assaulted were the ones who acted stubbornly,” Hlalele confessed. “When the others refused to be searched, we assaulted them, and the others fell in line.”

As Hlalele’s testimony ended, another recruit, Sepiriti Malefane, took the stand. His account added another layer to the grim narrative. Malefane began on Wednesday by recounting his search in Block C. “In Block C, around cells 38 and others, I searched one inmate, Seabata,” Malefane said. “I do not remember the others I was searching until I arrived at around cells 20 and 21.”

It was here, outside these cells, that Malefane noticed something was amiss. A group of recruits appeared to be conspiring, their whispers carrying the tension of what was to come. The previous night, several inmates had attempted to escape, and those in cells 20 and 21 had reportedly ululated and made noise during the attempt. When Malefane entered cell 20, he recognised several inmates.

“I asked Sephatha why he was making noise yesterday,” Malefane recounted, “but it was not just me asking him questions; others were, too.” The interrogation quickly escalated into violence. Malefane admitted to whipping Sephatha with a stick, as others joined in, turning the cell into a scene of collective punishment. The violence spiralled out of control as the recruits sought out more inmates to blame for the escape attempt.

“I went out to Kolofa’s cell and called him, but Kolofa refused to come out,” Malefane continued. “While I was still outside and holding a stick, Ratšele snatched the stick from me. He told me to take some of the sticks outside.” The chaos inside Block C had spilled into the corridors, with the recruits lashing out in a desperate attempt to assert control.

The violence did not stop there. Malefane’s testimony revealed the deeply personal nature of the assaults. When he reached Maximum, he encountered two inmates he knew personally: Kukutle, his brother-in-law, and Nthunya.

“I first asked Kukutle what happened,” Malefane said. “One recruit said we should not assault inmates, but I told him these ones are my siblings, and I am going to beat them.” The personal connection did not spare Kukutle or Nthunya from the violence. Malefane took a stick from a recruit and beat his brother-in-law, ordering him to call his co-accused. The beatings continued, fuelled by a mixture of frustration, fear, and anger.

The testimonies continue to paint a grim picture of that December day, revealing not just the brutality of the assaults but the complexities of the relationships between the recruits and the inmates.