Maximum Security prison under scrutiny
Innocent Selatlhwa | Monday September 8, 2025 15:37
The case put on the spotlight allegations of cellphones and other illegal substances over flooding prisons. Giving evidence in court on Wednesday, Moagi Letsholo lamented that there are a lot of fights going on at the Gaborone Central Prison’s maximum prison while the officers turn a blind eye.
Mhlanga alleges that he was assaulted by fellow inmates on November 13, 2017 for a prolonged period of time before prison officers could intervene.
For the negligence and breach of duty, he wants P50,000.00 and demands the same amount for pain and suffering occasioned.
During the time, Mhlanga had been serving a life sentence, but was released from prison a week after the incident due to a Presidential pardon.
His witness was Letsholo, who alongside Leufty Gaolemogwe Kosie, Outlwile Aston and Kebaleboge Ntsebe are charged for murdering Barulaganye Aston in 2022.
Letsholo, who was a prisoner when Mhlanga was assaulted and got back in prison for a six-year jail term, took a stand on Thursday and told the court that he was in prison when Mhlanga was beaten.
He said Mhlanga’s troubles started when there was a search of cells by prisons officials that occurred on November 13, 2017.
Letsholo added that the following day saw Mhlanga being brutally attacked by prisoners just before lunch on allegations that he had reported to officials that some prisoners had cellphones in prison.
“I heard the noise and came out from cell two to cell five where I found the prisoners assaulting him. They choked him, slapped him, hit him with fists.
“I rushed to hit the security gate trying to scream for the officers to assist. However, for some reason they took a long time to arrive, about one hour 30 minutes,” he Letsholo.
He said upon their arrival, he quizzed the officers as to why they took long to respond, and they said their work was not to only be looking after prisoners as they had other duties to perform.
He said the officers further dragged their feet before whisking him for medical attention, despite the fact that he was badly hurt.
Letsholo further revealed that they felt unprotected in prisons, stating that Mhlanga is not an isolated one as prisoners always fight when there are no officers on sight.
He stated that while it has always been practice that there were always two guards patrolling from above wielding guns, a phenomenon they named cat walking, on the day Mhlanga was attacked, they were not on site
“Ever since I was in prison, the officers were always cat-walking above us, however on that day they were nowhere to be seen. And they know very well that when they are not on site, a lot of things can happen including escaping and fighting by prisoners,” Letsholo said.
During cross-examination by State attorney Motlogelwa, she said Letsholo’s testimony was false as he had said Mhlanga was assaulted via fists, slaps and choking. She said Mhlanga had told the court that he was assaulted using broom sticks. He stood by his story and said it would be in line with the statement he gave the Police.
She put it to Letsholo that prison officers are not always around prisoners, but always act swiftly when they are called. To this, Letsholo said there are always two gun wielding officers overlooking them in prison and that when they are not there, a lot happens.
“We have been complaining about a lot of things happening in prison when guards are not on site. Just recently, another prisoner was badly stabbed by others,” he said, before he was interrupted by Motlogelwa.
Motlogelwa put it to Letsholo that even when the prison is well supervised, there would be incidents of fighting by prisoners. However, Letsholo said when guards are close by, doing their work, such incidents rarely occur.
In closing Motlogelwa said the state would be moving an application for absolution. The parties are to make written submissions for which Justice Modiri Letsididi will make a ruling on November 27, 2025.