Ramahloko murder details: An opening of old wounds
‘MANTŠANG KHUTLISI
MASERU – The High Court this week heard chilling testimonies of how the Lesotho Defence Force soldiers allegedly dragged and brutalized wounded police officer, Sub-Inspector Mokheseng Ramahloko, before his death.
The shocking revelations are part of evidence in the continuing high-profile murder trial at the High Court where High Court judge, Justice ’Maliepollo Makhetha, presides.
An eyewitness account delivered harrowing testimony of the moments following the police officer’s fatal shooting.
Sergeant Kamoho Mahanetsa, the ninth to testify, says shortly after Ramahloko was gunned down, two soldiers, now among the accused reportedly approached his body, which was lying on his back near the radio room of the Lesotho Mounted Police Service headquarters.
In a brutal scene described with emotional clarity, one soldier seized Ramahloko’s right leg while the other grabbed the left, and the pair began dragging his lifeless or possibly still-living body across the concrete floor.
The witness testified that as Ramahloko’s head struck the hard cement steps descending to the ground floor, the sound was unmistakable, his skull hitting the surface with a sickening thud.
It was at that moment that the witness, overcame by concern and the urgency of the situation, shouted in protest saying Ramahloko ‘is still alive’ and should be taken to hospital urgently.
The plea for medical assistance was met with an unthinkable response.
He says one of the soldiers allegedly replied coldly, “This devil is bothering us, let us kill him.”
Fearful for his own life and safety, Mahanetsa says he remained silent.
The soldiers reportedly continued to drag Ramahloko’s body, now limp and bloodied, all the way to the entrance of the police station, leaving behind a trail of questions about the true intentions behind the violent act, the evidence showed.
The accused in the case include high-profile political and military figures, former Deputy Prime Minister Mothejoa Metsing, Selibe Mochoboroane, former army commander Lieutenant General Tlali Kamoli as well as Captain Litekanyo Nyakane, alongside two other unnamed members of the Lesotho Defence Force.
The case, which has drawn intense public interest, is seen as a pivotal moment in Lesotho’s pursuit of justice for victims of politically motivated violence and military interference in democratic institutions.
The murder of Ramahloko occurred during a period of heightened political tension in the country, marked by attempted coups, constitutional crises, and breakdown in civil-military relations.
Justice Makhetha continues to preside over the emotionally charged proceedings, which have seen testimonies from several witnesses, each painting a grim picture of abuse of power, and disregard for human life.
