Ex-politician mobilises Asians for arson attacks
MANZINI – A &abinet minister received a tip-off that a certain e[-politician mobilised Asians to destroy government properties through arson and petrol bombs
,t is alleged that the e[-politician made attempts to influence some of the Asians whose businesses were closed for defaulting on ta[ obligations to come out and fight the government
About a few months ago the e[-politician is said to have approached them to unleash terror in revenge
7hese are some of the businessmen who were selling imported second-hand vehicles in the country
+e reportedly blamed the government and (swatini 5evenue 6ervice ((56) for their miseries 6ources said he allegedly approached them at a time when they were angry at the (56 and government
(56 is a public entity owned by the *overnment of (swatini
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PERSUASIVE
,t has been discovered that he was actually hoping that the businessmen would vent their anger on the government 7here are four Asians believed to be influential and persuasive who were approached by the e[-politician
7wo of them allegedly gave in to the plot as a result of the e[-politician¶s persuasion 7hey then went to one of their countrymen whom they thought would offer strong support in terms of financial resources and technical know-how
,nvestigations by this newspaper unearthed that the approached businessman reMected the idea and further advised them to drop the plan
7hey eventually dropped it
2ne of the Asians they approached said they refused to unleash terror in (swatini %asically the businessman said they did not come to the country to perpetrate or perpetuate terrorism
DID NOT CONCERN THEM
+e said their religion did not allow them to interfere in e[ternal matters that did not concern them
³,t¶s bad that he regarded us as terrorists who can bomb government structures :e refused to burn properties ´ he said
&lassified information seen by this newspaper is that one of the Asian businessmen disclosed to the &abinet minister that the e[-politician wanted them to participate in the attack of government properties using petrol bombs and other forms of arson
7hese companies are apparently angry at (56 for clamping down on them for not paying the 9alue Added 7a[ (9A7)
7hey owed (56 a lot of money ,t is understood that the e[-politician presented himself as a solution to their problems +owever they would get the help after they
It’s bad that he regarded us as terrorists who can bomb government structures. We refused to burn properties.”
had supported his agenda for polit ical transformation.
,t has been established that he allegedly asked them to sponsor and participate in the arson at tacks until government acceded to their demands for democratic changes.
7he minister was happy to learn that the plot was unsuccessful as all the businessmen were against the petrol bombs and arson at tacks.
7hey now fear that the e[ poli tician may retaliate by attacking them if he found out that they had e[posed the plan. However, it has to be said that the information was not sourced from the Asians.
Certain members of the 3olice Serious Crime 8nit, known as 7ingculungculu, are aware of the plot by the e[ politician. ,t is un derstood that the safety and secu rity of the whistleblowers is guar anteed. 7his was disclosed by an impeccable source within the secu rity structures.
CONFIDENTIAL
7he minister said he would not divulge the confidential informa tion, and wondered how this mat ter had reached the news desk. He wanted to know the person who leaked it, but he was told that jour nalism ethics do not permit the newsman to disclose sources, espe cially because the issue was shared in confidence.
Alpheous 1[umalo, the *overn ment Spokesperson, could only say that Cabinet was not privy to this information as it had not com municated or instructed anything to the press office regarding the issue.
Superintendent 3hindile 9ilakati, the Chief 3olice ,nformation and Communications Officer, said she had not received the issue as well, adding that investigators would not disclose it even if it was under in vestigation.
³3olice cannot talk about their in vestigations unless the person has been arrested and charged,” said Superintendent 9ilakati.
7he e[ politician, in a brief inter view, described the allegations as a smear campaign as he neither had any business with Asians nor had issues with ERS.
He challenged the Asians to come forth with evidence to substantiate the allegations. He also described the assertions as nonsense.
Arson attacks and petrol bombs have been a great cause for concern in the country.
7he last incident was the burning of 7/Bs belonging to ,nyatsi Con struction 3ty /td at Sigombeni where they had been assembled for a project that was to benefit thou sands of community members.
7he company lost E million. 7he incident left jobs for people in limbo.
After the arson attack last month, the company suspended its opera tions and ordered its workers to go home. 7hey would not be earning a salary until the company resumes operations.
TIGHTEN SECURITY
,n a statement released by the company, it indicated that it had taken a proactive stance to tighten security in response to the escalat ing and recurring targeted attacks that resulted in the destruction of machinery and eTuipment at three of its sites last year.
³7hese malicious attacks have created an unsafe working envi ronment for our dedicated teams, and we have decided to reconfigure and heighten our security proto cols. During this period, our direct employees will have to be on un paid leave, while ongoing projects valued at over R million in the current financial year have to be temporarily suspended,” the com pany said.
³:e can no longer defer enhanc ing our security and safety meas ures in the face of sustained attacks perpetrated by terrorists still at large.”
,t was reported by other online publications in South Africa that the site that was attacked at the Sigombeni was part of the Es watini :ater and Agricultural De velopment Enterprise ES:ADE , which the European 8nion funds. According to ES:ADE, the E8, through its 1ational Development 3lan , set aside E million to achieve increased water storage capacity enhanced pro duction capacity for smallholders and strengthened institutional ca pacity.
,t was unknown what the impact of the attack on the site would be on the project. 7hat is if the E8 would still fund it. However, the company indicated that it would be negligent for them to continue with the projects as if it were busi ness as usual.
VULNERABLE
,nyatsi Construction’s pro jects include roads, water projects, maintenance, township develop ments and agricultural develop ment projects which all directly impact communities, including vulnerable groups.
Although ,nyatsi Construction felt that it was a clear target of these attacks, the company itself was not the real victim.
,nyatsi stated that the incalculable and far reaching conseTuences of these attacks had been sadly borne by the communities, sub contrac tors and employees who depended on the company.
³As ,nyatsi Construction, we value our human resources, and their safety is of utmost impor tance. As we reconfigure our op erations to heighten safety and security protocols in the wake of sustained attacks, we have seen it prudent to suspend operations tem porarily for security reasons,” read the statement issued by the com pany last month in response to the arson attacks.
One of its machinery was also torched in the Shiselweni Region, where the company was contracted to build the over km 1hlanga no Sicunusa Road.
Madlangempisi M3 Sibusiso 1[ umalo’s home was terribly ra]ed to the ground through arson attacks. He suffered damages amounting to over E million.
SUFFERED DAMAGES
Sifiso Simelane, the Eswatini Beverages Risk Manager, suffered damages estimated to be around E . million when his house and Audi A sedan were petrol bombed by unknown arsonists.
Simelane’s sin was testifying in the trial of incarcerated M3s Mdudu]i Bacede Mabu]a and Mthandeni Dube.
7he home of Minister of 7inkhundla Administration and Development, David 1gcampha lala and that of Estate Manager at the King’s Office Sihle Dlamini were burnt as well.
7he civil unrest which began last year has not subsided as peo ple who claim to be underground forces shot dead two police officers and a soldier.
7hey claimed to be avenging the death of over people who were allegedly shot dead by the security forces at the peak of the civil unrest in -une -uly .