…In another brazen case of police brutality
Rethabile Pitso
THE Ramangoaela family is tormented after the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) allegedly tortured their 34-year-old son, Poulo Ramangoaela, to death.
Poulo was supposed to be buried yesterday but the family was forced to postpone the burial ceremony after his brother, Retšelisitsoe, was arrested as he tried to lay charges against the police officers who allegedly killed his sibling
Retšelisitsoe was arrested in Teyateyaneng (TY) and was still in police custody at the time we went to press last night.
The arrest has left their mother, ’Maliabo Ramangoaela, shaken and fearful and convinced that her family is being haunted into silence to avoid speaking about how Poulo died.
The Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) has been in the spotlight over the years on allegations of torturing and brutalizing citizens. It is currently facing multiple lawsuits from citizens who allege their relatives lost their lives to police brutality.
Poulo and Retšelisitsoe (27) were first arrested on 23 December 2025, two days after a violent altercation with two police officers at a local tavern in Berea. Poulo later died on 11 January 2026 at Queen ‘Mamohato Memorial Hospital (QMMH) after what his family alleges was prolonged and brutal torture while in Teyateyaneng police custody.
The family had planned to bury Poulo yesterday in Teyateyaneng, but the burial was abruptly postponed on Friday after Retšelisitsoe was arrested shortly after he allegedly went to the police station to open a case against officers he claims tortured his brother to death.
In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Express, a visibly distraught Ms Ramangoaela alleged that both her sons were subjected to savage beatings by police officers using crude weapons, including gardening spades, knobkerries and iron rods.
She claims the assaults took place inside a “torture room” located within the police residential compound.
According to Ms Ramangoaela, the chain of events began at a local tavern where her sons were drinking when a confrontation broke out with two police officers.
She said the dispute started when one officer, identified only as Mohlakantsoe, who had been seated close to Retšelisitsoe, snatched the younger brother’s hat and refused to give it back.
“When Poulo saw his brother upset, he confronted the officer,” she said.
“But instead of resolving the issue, the officer responded with aggression, using vulgar language and threatening to ‘show him flames’ when he returned from the toilet.”
Moments later, the situation escalated.
Ms Ramangoaela said that upon returning, the officer allegedly drew his firearm and cocked it, appearing ready to raise it towards Poulo. Acting quickly, Poulo knocked the gun out of the officer’s hand, sending it crashing to the floor.
With his brother rushing to his side, the two restrained the officer. Poulo, who had drawn a knife during the struggle, stabbed the police officer.
A second officer, identified as Tau, intervened and also drew his firearm in defence of his colleague. However, in the ensuing struggle, Tau was overpowered, and while trying to divert the weapon away from the brothers, he accidentally shot himself in the hand.
Tavern patrons told the Sunday Express that it was the tavern’s security personnel who eventually managed to separate the parties. All those injured were taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.
Two days later, Poulo and Retšelisitsoe were arrested.
It was after this arrest, Ms Ramangoaela said, that her nightmare truly began.
“The last time I saw my son in a healthy state was on the Saturday morning after that fight,” she recalled.
“He was his usual happy self — laughing, joking, even telling me how Matseli ( Retšelisitsoe, the young brother) had ended up walking with a limp.”
Ms Ramangoaela said she left for work in South Africa that same weekend. On the Tuesday of 23 December, she received devastating news that both her sons had been arrested and were being treated at Berea Hospital for injuries allegedly sustained while in police custody.
“When I arrived, what I saw broke me,” she said.
“They were in terrible condition. Both were shackled at the ankles, and despite our pleas, the police refused to remove the cuffs.”
She said Poulo told her they had been taken from their holding cells and moved to a confined room inside the government compound where police officers reside.
“He told me they were beaten with a spade, a knobkerrie and iron sticks. They were kicked repeatedly in the stomach. He said they suffered internal injuries.”
According to the mother, Poulo bore the worst brunt of the abuse.
“He kept begging them to spare his brother. He told them if someone had to die, it should be him, not Matšeli (as he often called Retšelisitsoe),” she said, fighting back tears.
She alleged the torture continued for two days before the brothers were returned to their cells.
Even at the hospital, she said, the suffering did not end.
“The nurses themselves complained that the shackles made it impossible to treat my sons properly.
“When they arrived at Berea Hospital, one was still in a tracksuit, the other in pyjamas, both shackled. The nurses could not fully remove their clothes to treat their injuries, especially on their buttocks.”
She described the injuries as “horrifying”, adding that the boys developed repeated infections because their blood- and pus-stained clothes could not be properly removed due to the shackles.
“They stayed in those shackles for almost a week before police finally allowed them to be removed,” she said.
Frustrated by what she described as unsuitable conditions at Berea Hospital, Ms Ramangoaela requested that her sons be transferred to QMMH or Maseru District Hospital. After repeated failed attempts, the family secured their release from Berea Hospital with authorisation and took them to QMMH themselves.
“What the doctors told us there still haunts me,” she said.
“One doctor said we were walking with a corpse. He said Poulo’s organs had already stopped functioning.”
She said doctors explained that Poulo’s internal organs had effectively turned to “porridge”.
“He could not have survived,” she said.
Now mourning one son, Ms Ramangoaela says she is facing yet another ordeal.
Retšelisitsoe was arrested again on Wednesday and has since been remanded in custody. She claims the charges against him have been fabricated to prevent him from pursuing legal action against the police.
“I am living in fear,” she said.
“I don’t know how far the police are willing to go to suppress what happened to my son. I don’t even know if Matseli will come back alive, or in a body bag.”
Contacted for comment, Berea District Police Commander (DISPOL) Senior Superintendent Kabelo Halahala denied allegations that police officers tortured the Ramangoaela brothers.
SSP Halahala said the injuries sustained by Poulo and Retšelisitsoe resulted from the tavern fight with the two police officers.
He confirmed that Retšelisitsoe has been remanded in custody since Wednesday on a charge of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.
“I can confirm that Retšelisitsoe has been remanded to answer to charges arising from the fight with the two officers,” SSP Halahala said.
He added that Retšelisitsoe had been issued with a medical form, allowing him to pursue a case against the police if he wished.
“By right, he was given a medical form at the station. If he wants to exercise his right and open a case against the police, he is free to do so,” he said.