Central SA
Bester’s cell fire victim: Family yet to receive remains – VIDEOS─── 16:00 Tue, 25 Apr 2023
The father of Katlego Junior Bereng-Mpholo, Batho Mpholo, said the family has not received the body of their son after it has been identified as Thabo Bester’s cell fire victim.
He confirmed the news this morning at the Park Road Police Station in Bloemfontein. He said that the family was informed that the remains of their son, Katlego Junior Bereng, will only be released and viewed once certain procedures have been completed.
Mpholo, accompanied by members of ActionSA in the Free State, visited the Park Road Police Station on Tuesday to open a case against the Department of Health, the Department of Correctional Services, and G4S. This after stating that he demands answers as to how his son’s body ended up in Bester’s cell because he is not convinced that his son collapsed and was taken to hospital where he passed on.
“Today we are opening a case against the Department of Health, against Correctional Services, and against G4S. It's shortly just about procedures, as to how my son’s body got into the hospital and since it was unidentified, what procedures followed? Was it registered properly, how did it end up in the mortuary, and then who collected it from the mortuary, how did it end up in the hands of G4S, who collected it? Those are the charges that we are laying because it clearly shows that no procedures were followed at all,” he said.
Meanwhile, ActionSA Chairperson in the Free State, Patricia Kopane, said there are many unanswered questions in this case.
“Firstly, the family and the South African people need to know what is the cause of death? Who killed Katleho? Today police claim that Katleho was taken ... when he was unconscious, still alive ... he was taken to a hospital. So we want the medical report from the ambulance, they must explain the medical condition of Katleho when he was still up on his feet, and when he arrived at the hospital. He definitely went to the casualty ward, so both casualty staff or the trauma doctor would have seen the patient and we heard that because of low blood pressure he died. We want the doctor who certified that,” she added.
Kopane called on all those who were involved in moving Katleho's body from where police claim it was to G4S, to be held accountable.
