26 Jan 2022

Gaborone Central Prison has refuted allegations that remand accused persons in the G4S Security Company over P2.3 million cash heist robbery are staying in deplorable environment.

Officer in charge at the facility, Senior Superintendent Oganeditse Tlhako, assured Broadhurst Magistrate Court on Monday that the quartet, Mothusi Matomela, Thapelo Lekobe, Mzwandile Mazibuko,

Ntholephi Elliot Ntshalintshali and one other serving inmate were housed at Cell 11, isolated from other inmates and that the facility was habitable.

The court had summoned the officer in charge after the accused persons alleged that they were accommodated in appalling conditions.

They had further alleged that they were not fed accordingly, not allowed to fellowship with other inmates and that their cell did not have a television.

The accused persons also alleged that Cell 11 was reserved for female condemned prisoners and was adjacent to the execution chamber therefore, the situation was inhumane and torturous.

He disputed that Cell 11 was never used to house condemned female prisoners, but was rather used to accommodate inmates who require close monitoring depending on the seriousness of the alleged offence.

“In the recent past, the cell was used as an isolation facility for positive COVID-19 cases,” he said.  Snr. Supt Tlhako said that the accused persons were better off staying at Cell 11 rather than at the cell housing other inmates with pending matter which was congested.

In refuting the alleged reports, Senior Superintendent Tlhako wondered what could have inspired the accused persons to come up with such allegations.

He said the situation at Gaborone Central Prison was that convicts and other inmates with pending matters were housed in separate cells.

Additionally, Snr. Supt Tlhako said occupants of Cell 11 and Cell 12 were the first to be served meals due to their limited numbers.

He further revealed that currently the prison facility only had one television set, which was installed at the convicts’ cell.

Snr. Supt further revealed that remands and convicts were housed in separate cells and therefore could not hold a joint prayer service.

The quartet are charged with armed robbery, unlawful possession of fire arm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and possession of goods stolen outside the country.

The court will make a determination on the issue on February 3. ENDS