Gaitsiwe demands P2m for roadblock ordeal
Sharon Mathala | Wednesday February 18, 2026 06:30
What began as an ordinary commute to work ended in a moment that would change his life forever. At a police roadblock, Gaitsiwe alleges that an officer sprayed a fire extinguisher into the vehicle he was travelling in. The incident, he says, left him struggling with lasting health complications and a life that has never been the same.
This weekend, The Monitor sat down with a frail and visibly defeated Gaitsiwe, who spoke quietly but firmly about his ordeal. His body, he says, is a constant reminder of that day. His spirit, too, bears the weight of what he describes as years of unanswered pleas. Frustrated and feeling ignored, Gaitsiwe says he has written to the Office of the President, the Ministry of Justice, and even the Chief Justice’s office. He says he is not seeking sympathy, only accountability.
For Gaitsiwe, the fight is no longer just about what happened at that roadblock. It is about being heard in a system he believes has overlooked him. Eight years later, he is still waiting, hoping that someone, somewhere, will finally listen.
“There was a debate between the officers and our driver about whether the fire extinguisher was functional. Suddenly, one officer sprayed it inside the kombi without checking it and directed the nozzle at us.”
Gaitsiwe, who was seated amongst five other passengers, says he was the most affected. High Court papers dated August 30, 2018, filed by Mfosi Legal Attorneys, state that the officer did not check on the passengers’ health or apologise after discharging the extinguisher. As the combi proceeded to Lobatse, Gaitsiwe began vomiting uncontrollably and complained of blurred vision before losing consciousness. He later woke up at Athlone Hospital with an oxygen mask and an intravenous drip.
Court documents indicate that doctors have linked his condition to carbon dioxide inhalation, which allegedly affected his respiratory system, skin and eyesight. He now suffers from a persistent cough, skin rashes and recurring weakness. Medical reports further warn of a possible development of asthma.
Gaitsiwe, a builder by profession, says he can no longer work, especially in dusty environments. He is demanding P1 million for gross negligence, P1 million for pain and suffering, and P84,200 for loss of income, but his efforts over the past six years have led to one dead end after another.
“What do you do as a citizen when you are being blocked by the very system that should protect you? I have been to court, and each time, there is an excuse as to why the case cannot proceed. They changed judges three times, prosecutors most times don’t turn up to court, and the matter is postponed time and again,” Gaitsiwe said, further adding that he had initially engaged lawyers, but now he is financially strained.
Gaitsiwe said after losing the little money he had in lawyer fees over the years, the court appointed lawyers to assist him, “and I don’t know, maybe they too are stalling the case so that I give up and move on. But how can I move on when I am unable to fend for myself as I used to?”
A frustrated Gaitsiwe further reached out to the OP.
“You know every day the President (Duma Boko) preached that we are a human rights country, but my human rights have been and continue being violated by the government. I have nowhere to go. I have tried all that I could do for justice,” he said.
Meanwhile, Gaitsiwe says he feels abandoned.
“My life is stuck. I am in pain and struggling every day. The pains worsen at night, and the medical journey is not easy nor cheap,” he said.