Inmate demands P4.5m for brutal assault
Sharon Mathala | Thursday June 5, 2025 12:14
In the lawsuit, Sekerese is demanding P4.5 million in compensation for what he describes as a life-altering, brutal assault at the hands of prison wardens. Currently serving a 10-year sentence for defilement, he has issued a statutory notice to both the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services and the Attorney General, detailing claims of physical torture, medical neglect, and prolonged suffering all of which he claims have left him permanently disabled.
Giving an account contained in the notice, Sekerese recounts the events of February 5, 2025, saying that shortly after receiving his morning meal he was ordered to join a prison parade.
According to Sekerese, he lingered near the prison fence whilst finishing his food when officers accused him of insubordination.
“On February 5, 2025, I was assaulted by some prison officer (names withheld by this publication) when I was from taking my morning food rotation. Prisoners were ordered to parade; I was still by the fence taking my morning food rotation before other inmates.
“From there, officers felt that I was being disrespectful, and I was taken to solitary confinement, where I was assaulted by the said officers without being taken to a medical practitioner as per Section 32 of the Prison Act,” Sekerese stated.
“I was taken to solitary confinement where I was viciously assaulted by prison officers. They kicked me with their combat boots, beat me with their fists and button sticks all whilst I was shackled in handcuffs and leg irons,” he continued.
According to the inmate, he was not examined by any medical personnel following the alleged attack.
Instead, Sekerese said he was left to suffer in isolation without access to the daily medication he requires for a further three days.
“The doctor at the prison clinic, instructed that I be taken to a special doctor outside prison but unfortunately the prison officers ignored my situation,” he stated.
As a result of the alleged beating, Sekerese has sustained permanent injuries to his right scrotal and left testicular regions, injuries he says have left him both disfigured and disabled.
Citing the Constitution of Botswana, Sekerese reminds authorities that “no person shall be subjected to torture, or to inhuman or degrading punishment”.
He is now seeking P4.5 million in damages, broken down as follows:
1. P3.6 million for permanent disfigurement and disability
2. P180,000 for psychological trauma and shock
3. P720,000 for anticipated future medical expenses
His family reached out to The Monitor team for a cry of help. They say their son was tortured behind bars.
“When I went to visit him, he was not in a good state. He has difficulty walking. He told me he is still bleeding from his private parts. On Friday (May 31, 2025) the Mahalapye prison officers called me to say he should be taken to private hospital for further medical checks and that as the family we would have to pay for it,” the father to the inmate, Gaditshwenye Sekerese, said.
“All we want is justice. Initially, they said they are investigating the matter but now they say that since he has issued a statutory notice they won’t be engaging with us anymore but in the meantime he is suffering,” Sekerese's father said.