In the process of investigations on January 3 visited the victims of Kao. According to MP Mosito, police authority have informed the committee that a task team has also been set up to investigate the Kao police raid that resulted in at least one person dead while others injured and the report would be tabled before the committee. “We are satisfied with the speedy action undertaken by the police to form a task team to investigate the Kao police raid that left at least one person dead,” he said.

Transformation Resource Centre (TRC), an ecumenical resource centre that advocates for justice, peace and participatory development, claimed that the ‘brutal torture’ of members of the Kao community by police has resulted to death of one Poshoane Moloi and “there were unconfirmed reports that there was another fatality of an innocent visitor (Mr. Boraoneng Nchabeng) that occurred, who was also tortured by police during that unfortunate crusade. TRC had made follow ups to verify the reports of his alleged death. Subsequent to the follow ups we would like to confirm to the public that Mr Boraoneng Nchebang of Leribe in  Mathokoane is still alive but severely wounded.”

Kao community, in the Botha-Bothe district woke up in that fateful Thursday morning to a group of armed police which is reported to have allegedly assaulted the villagers. According to information gathered from the victims, a large number of members of the police stationed at Botha-Bothe and some from a camp located at Kao attacked their homes while they were still sleeping and assaulted them. At least one person was reported to have lost his life as a result of the police assaults while other community members sustained serious injuries and were rushed to 'Mamohau hospital while those who sustained minor injuries received first aid on the spot. One of the victims, Masekoati Leoma, 29, related her experience of the drama that upon their arrival at her house, the armed police found her alone with her kids as her husband was not at home that day. “They started beating me up with sjambok,” she said. She said the suspected that the police attack was provoked by an incident whereby a member of the police got injured on Christmas day, following a quarrel with one of the community members over a woman alleged to have had an intimate relationship with both of them.

She explained: “Surprisingly, both men and women became victims of the cruel beating.” While Botha-Bothe district commissioner Senior Superintendent Teboho Khesa would not want to comment, the police spokesperson Superintendent Mpiti Mopeli said reports indicated that a police officer noticed a woman being harassed by two men and tried to intervene but was attacked during the process leading to more police from Botha-Bothe coming in to assist.

TmgLive/Lena