’Marafaele Mohloboli / Mohalenyane Phakela
MYSTERY surrounds the 25 May 2023 death of former
Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) corporal, Ntabejane Kanono, after it emerged this week that he had died from poison while in prison.
Corporal Kanono died in the Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) clinic in Maseru, where he had been rushed from his cell.
The Kanono family later conducted its own autopsy, which it said allegedly revealed he had been poisoned.
But according to LCS spokesperson, Cadet Officer Pheko Ntobane, the correctional institution only learned this week that Corporal Kanono allegedly died from poison. The LCS had only seen the family’s alleged autopsy report in question on social media but were never part of his postmortem, C/O Ntobane added.
C/O Ntobane also said the family had not told the LCS management that it suspected any foul-play in the death of Corporal Kanono, and would have joined the police in initiating the post-mortem had it been the case.
“The person in question (Kanono) was under the LCS care and supervision after being convicted by the court martial sometime last year and I cannot remember the exact dates since I am away from his file,” C/O Ntobane said.
“When a person in our custody dies, the first thing we do is inform the police, who would come and confirm his death and also investigate if there were any signs of foul play. The LCS would then either call the family or send officers to the
family home. In this case, I am not sure what procedure was used as this happened a while ago in May.
“It is possible that his family came to know about his death when they got to our institution to visit him. This may mean that they would have arrived shortly after he died.
“However, this issue of poison is news to us as we only learned about it vial social media. The family never hinted on any suspicion of foul-play hence we were never part of the post-mortem. Even to date, the family has not said anything to us. We need to be furnished with that autopsy report which will, in turn, inform our next move. Our mandate is to protect and rehabilitate the inmates and not to kill them.”
However, the Kanono family says the alleged autopsy report
revealed that their 50-year-old son had been killed by poison.
The family is now demanding justice after the report allegedly revealed foul play.
Speaking to the Lesotho Times this week, one of the deceased’s brothers who asked that his name be withheld, said he only discovered of his sibling’s death when he had gone to visit him in prison.
“This is quite a painful ordeal which one does not even know how to narrate. I went to see him as usual that morning, but the reception by the prison warders was different in that I was made to wait longer than usual without being taken to him and instead of going to where I usually met him, I was taken to the office.
“When I got there, I found a team of management officers including the one I was told was the one who normally took him for medical check-ups. I was then told that my brother had died. It was not clear as to how he had died, but it was said that he had had some complications during the night and was assisted
by a nurse who then left immediately after stabilising him,” said the brother, who added he was then advised to conduct a postmortem if he wanted to.
“It was as if they could see that I suspected foul play and that came to my advantage. Upon leaving the prison premises with a heavy heart, I met my sister at the gate and stopped her. I lied to her and said our brother had just been rushed to a doctor. I did not want to tell her there and then what had happened.
“We were shocked when the postmortem came out saying there was some poison in his system. The pathologist said more tests would be done by a toxicologist to try and identify what kind of poison was found and we are still awaiting the results,” the brother added.
Speaking to the Lesotho Times about his son’s death, their father, Rantata Kanono, said they were appealing to any “Good Samaritan” who would help the family get closure.
“We are appealing to anyone who will hear us out and help us get closure. We have lost a son who cherished his family. My son was such a loving soul and a peace-loving person and he did not have to die like this. All we want are answers and maybe we shall overcome this injustice and pain.
“What is even more painful is the fact that the army has disowned my son and said they no longer regard him as one of their own and will not even be part of the funeral arrangements. We are still trying to get to terms with what they said
and actually, hoping that they might just have a change of heart and have mercy on us. This is so painful!” said Mr Kanono.
Contacted for comment yesterday, LDF spokesperson, Lieutenant-Colonel Sakeng Lekola, said Corporal Kanono had been discharged from the army after being convicted and was therefore no longer regarded as a member of the LDF.
“Ntabejane was convicted by a court martial in 2022, although I cannot recall the month. Consequently, he was discharged from the LDF so he is no longer a soldier. This means we are not in a position to talk about his issues,” Lt-Col Lekola said.
Corporal Kanono was one of the soldiers who were suspected of the 2015 mutiny by the then army command of Major-General Khoantle Motśomotśo. The then LDF commander, Tlali Kamoli, had been sent on forced leave.
Corporal Kanono was a close lieutenant of slain former army commander, Maaparankoe Mahao, hence they were both labeled mutiny suspects. While Lt-Gen Mahao was killed on 25 June 2015, Corporal Kanono was arrested and allegedly tortured by his colleagues at Setibing Military Base.
In June 2021, he teamed up with 15 others to sue the current LDF commander, Lt-Gen Mojalefa Letsoela, jointly claiming a staggering M32 million from the LDF for the 2015 alleged torture and unlawful arrests.
The 15 were Tumelo Maja, Ngoliso Majara, Khorai Ralitlemo, Motšoene Motšoene, Thabiso Motsieloa, Thabang Lepota, Peter Mokhothu, Selebalo Sejake, Lintle Rantuba, Lehlohonolo Bolofo, Ntai Mosaku, Litšitso Mahase, Mokhapi Kelane, Mojalefa Mosakeng and Lehloa Ramotšo.
However, Lt-Gen Letsoela reacted by opposing their application.
The army boss further slapped them with letters asking them to “show cause” why he should not suspend them. They were subsequently suspended in July 2021 and hauled before a Board of Inquiry.
Lt-Gen Letsoela established the Board of Inquiry to investigate whether their action to convene and sue the LDF was not a mutinous act.
Corporal Kanono and others then petitioned the High Court to seek an order nullifying the LDF inquiry.
In their court papers, they stated that Corporal Kanono tested positive for Covid-19 and were all ordered to be checked for the infection. Two days later, Corporal Kanono was “arrested” by LDF members and further made to reveal his medical records, this according to court papers.
The LDF allegedly conducted its own tests and found that Corporal Kanono had fabricated the Covid-19 results which had said he was positive. Corporal Kanono was then charged before the Court Martial, on charges which included fraud. He was convicted after being found guilty late last year.
Corporal Kanono is survived by both his sickly parents, five siblings and his two sons and two daughters.
