CCTV captures gory prison assault

The CCTV footage showed officers exchanging bottles containing what looked like home-made beer.
The cameras showed when the slain inmate, Bokang Tsoako, was banged against the prison wall before the drunken inmates hit him with sticks, batons, and kicked him even when he was lying down.
Another inmate, Bokang Motumi, who had a gunshot wound was seen being kicked on the injured leg while other overzealous warders hit him with sticks all over his body.
Another warder was spotted taking a spade to strike an inmate but other warders wrestled it from him.
Justice Mathaba asked Senior Superintendent Tsietsi Mahlelebe, the second in command at the prison, what he was drinking in a pink bottle that he was spotted holding shortly after the arrival of two recaptured inmates.
S/Supt Mahlelebe said it was water.
Justice Mathaba told him that some inmates said they saw officers drinking something that looked like home-made beer, widely known as ’Mamotsatsa.
“They also told us that the officers were speaking in tongues. Would you know what was in there?”
S/Supt Mahlelebe conceded that the officers seen on the footage had just had a Christmas party at work.
He said they ate pork and beef “and (drank) traditional beer that could leave one drunk”.
Justice Mathaba said the commission now understands why the officers behaved that way.
The CCTV footage showed S/Supt Mahlelebe among officers who received inmate Bokang Motumi, when he arrived back to the prison after being recaptured.
Motumi, who was bandaged and had his left leg plastered, was seen being beaten by several warders until some of them intervened, pushing him on a wheelchair.
Some officers appeared to be holding knobkerries.
The perpetrators were identified by S/Supt Mahlelebe as they appeared on the CCTV footage watched by the commission.
Tsoako, who had been arrested for cable theft but had escaped from the prison in December last year, was re-arrested in the afternoon and was brutally assaulted for more than 30 minutes by several officers, from 15:09 to 16:38, according to the footage.
Tsoako arrived in a Land Cruiser vehicle full of armed men.
He disembarked from the car next to the main building entrance with officers who were already assaulting him with fists and sticks.
Tsoako was dressed in khaki trousers, a black shirt and a white Adidas with red stripes.
He was seen being pushed by a prison warder in a pink shirt and a black trousers who has been identified as Officer Ratsetse by Snr Supt Mahlelebe.
Before entering the sergeants’ office, Tsoako was badly beaten with sticks until he ran into the office.
Officer Ratsetse was seen throwing punches as well.
She together with another officer who was wearing a reflector (not yet identified) were seen beating Tsoako until he fell down.
More than seven officers were seen battling to get a chance to beat Tsoako while he was down.
Another officer in the room who was wearing a reflector (not yet identified) was seen trying to take a stick from another officer (not yet identified).
But the officer held the stick tightly.
While Tsoako was still down, the CCTV showed an officer in a black shirt (not yet identified) having a stick going up and down several times and he later left the room, leaving Tsoako in the hands of another officer who entered the office holding a stick and continued to beat Tsoako.
Another officer (not yet identified) with a green shirt and a black hat also entered the room with a stick and continued to beat Tsoako with the officer who had a school bag.
Two officers wearing the uniform of senior managers entered the office that was empty. It was only Tsoako who was lying down in the office.
The footage showed Commissioner Mating Nkakala arriving and entering the room in which Tsoako was lying down.
He was spotted going around in the room checking on Tsoako.
S/Sup Mahlelebe was spotted roaming around next to the door as well while another officer arrived pushing a wheelchair and went inside the room.
An officer with a wheelchair came out followed by Tsoako who did not have a shirt anymore and his body was splattered with blood.
He was walking like someone who was about to collapse.

S/Supt Mahlelebe identified the following officers from the cameras:

• Officer Mokiba was seen beating Tsoako.
• Chief Officer Mpitsa Marai was seen beating Tsoako twice with his stick.
• Officer Mpokothi was seen slamming Tsoako’s face on the main block stone wall.
• Officer Nthonyana was seen beating Tsoako with a stick.
• Officer Kheleli was also seen kicking Tsoako while he was down.
• Officer Raboshabane was seen beating Tsoako with fists.
• Officer George was seen beating Tsoako with a stick.
• Sergeant Posa was seen beating Tsoako.
• Recruit Mahao and Officer Ratsetse were also seen beating Tsoako.

Tsoako’s murder suspects were named and identified by the LCS station commander and Senior Superintendent Tsietsi Mahlelebe.

From 15:09

Tsoako appears on the CCTV’s main building behind the Toyota Landcruiser surrounded by heavily armed officers. He is wearing khaki trousers, a black shirt and white Adidas sneakers with red stripes.

Officer Nthonyane is seen pushing Tsoako from the back of the van until he falls.

He is beaten twice with a stick by Chief Officer Mpitsa Marai when getting out of the vehicle.

While walking towards the entrance Tsoako is slammed face-first on the wall by Officer Mpokothi and he falls on to the ground immediately.

While trying to get up Tsoako is again kicked hard by Officer Marebole and is slapped by Officer Posa.

Officer Kheleli kicks Tsoako while he is down.

Another officer Raboshabane beats Tsoako with a stick he is holding.

From 15:10

Officer Swatsi assists Tsoako to stand up and Officer Ratsetse appears pointing at the sergeant’s office door and Tsoako tries to enter. He is stopped by a kick on the chest by Officer Recruit Mahao who is standing at the entrance and Officer Ratsetse starts punching Tsoako several times while pushing him into the sergeant’s office. Tsoako hits the table in there while Ratsetse is punching him non-stop.

Officer Raboshabane and Officer George are also seen assaulting Tsoako with sticks.

Officer Marebole follows behind and they are seen ganging up on Tsoako with Ratseetse beating him with fists several times.

Officer Lempe went out of the office, took a dust bin and went into the office with it. He was later seen beating Tsoako on the head with it and he fell.

From 15:15 pm

-Officer Mahao, Officer Posa and Officer Kholuoe were seen approaching Tsoako and beginning to assault him with sticks several times while he was down and no more moving.

Officer Marebole again entered the sergeant’s office with a stick and continued to beat Tsoako. He then left together with other officers who were just looking as the assault unfolded.

From 16: 35

-Commissioner Mating Nkakala arrives and enters the room.

From 16: 46

-An officer arrives pushing a wheelchair and goes inside the room.

From 16:48

-The officer with a wheelchair goes out followed by Tsoako who had his shirt off. His body was splattered in blood and he was walking like someone who was about to collapse.

-Tsoako sits in a wheelchair and an officer with shackles comes and shackles him before he is pushed away from the camera’s view.