Kgafela is in jail not a house - official

Staff Writers | Wednesday November 3, 2010 00:00

 

'I can confirm to you that Kgosi Kgafela is in our custody and has not been given any special treatment. There is an order for his remand and it is our duty to remand him,' Botswana Prisons spokesperson, Wamorena Ramolefhe said in answer to Mmegi questions. Ramolefhe would not say at which prison the Kgosi has been remanded citing security reasons.

However there have been conflicting reports with some people saying that Kgafela is living in a furnished house and even has television, while others say he is housed in a prison cell. Those who say he is in a prison cell however also differ as to where he is housed.

'I can categorically state that I visited Kgosi Kgafela at the first offenders prison on Monday. I know he is remanded at that prison,' said lawyer Sidney Pilane, who is also a member of the royal house.

However a source from within the prisons said that the Bakgatla royals have been remanded at the Boys' Prison. 'I think following the Nchindo case, the bosses would have learnt a lesson.  We do not discuss these things because we are employed here. However, at one point (Garvas) Nchindo and (Joe) Matome were kept at that house and the DCEC came snooping,' said a source. The source further claimed that there are no guards posted at the house and that the only difference between whoever occupies the house and the people at home is that the house is within the prison premises.

In the past, various notable people have been held in prison, and some of them claim that they were held in a similar if not the same house.

'I believe the idea is to ensure that as a societal figure, you do not have to go through the rough prison life, especially considering the fact that the courts may free you,' said one of them.

 Already there are mumblings from some members of the public following what they see as special treatment extended to Kgosi Kgafela and his men. Kgafela and his co-accused handed themselves in to the police last Thursday, after being on the run from the law for two days. This was after Chief Magistrate Barnabas Nyamadzabo committed Kgafela, his brother Mmusi and 11 other tribesmen for remand pending their trial in which they have been charged with illegal flogging of people in the Kgatleng area. After they handed themselves in to the police, Kgafela and his co-accused were held overnight at the Special Support Group (SSG) camp in Gaborone, something that some members of the public have questioned. Many expected fugitive Kgafela and his men to spend the night in a police cell as the magistrates court had already committed them to prison. Many also questioned the presence of Police Commissioner Thebeyame Tsimako at the time the men surrendered to the police as they believe Tsimako's role was to cushion the Kgosi and his men from any humiliating situation.

However when he was contacted, Tsimako referred Mmegi sister paper, The Monitor to police spokesman, Chris Mbulawa.Mbulawa denied that the Bakgatla tribesmen were given special treatment.  He said once suspects are held by the police, they are under detention irrespective of where they are kept. However, he could not explain why they decided to keep Kgafela and his co accused at the SSG camp.