For over a year
but we have no idea how far they are with their investigations,” said Make Dlamini.
The missing quartet’s aunt corroborated her sisterin-law’s assertions, stating that they had made efforts to trace their relatives by sending pictures of them to the South African Police Service (SAPS), but nothing had since transpired. The aunt also disclosed that one of the children of the missing quartet was critically ill. She stated that at first they suspected that the four were kidnapped or were already dead due to the circumstances surrounding their disappearance, as there was no forthcoming information that could shed light.
“We are angry my child, because this matter has made us a laughing stock within the community and some come with different versions and opinions on their disappearance.
“They left wives and children and one of the children is sick. It is a heartbreaking scenario because we tried all means to locate them by involving the police, both locally and in South Africa, but have not been successful. Mbongwa was based in Siteki but we were told that he was on the verge of being transferred to Mbutfu (Army Barracks), hence we constantly engaged the soldiers at Mbutfu about the matter,” said the aunt. The father of Muzi, one of the missing men, Sabelo Dlamini, said as a family they were still confused over the mysterious disappearance of their family members.
Disappearance
Sabelo said some of their sons’ wives had left to seek employment following their husbands’ disappearance. “The others are my brothers’ sons and Muzi is my son. They never communicated where they were going but simply left. We are still in the dark as to where they are after searching for them both locally and in South Africa,” he said.
Mpolonjeni Indvuna Yenkhundla Thulani Dlamini said he was aware of the matter.
The indvuna said the matter had also confused the community in the manner the soldier and his relatives had disappeared, due to the fact that they had not communicated with their family since last year.
According to his knowledge, he last learned that the family was still searching for their relatives without success.
“This is an old matter and a strange one because all the children come from one home. We are still shocked because a search cannot take almost a year without a breakthrough. We pray that they are eventually found because the family is traumatised,” he said.
UEDF Public Affairs Officer (PRO) 2nd Lieutenant Tengetile Khumalo said the relevant structures were in cooperation and in constant contact with each other on the missing soldier’s whereabouts. Khumalo said it was worth mentioning that the battalion also furnished her office with quarterly reports on the constant communication with the soldier’s family.
Confirmed
Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superitendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed the matter. Vilakati said the police were still carrying out their investigations on the incident.
“We have a report of Mbongwa Dlamini, who went missing in February last year. Police are still investigating the matter,” she said.
Meanwhile, in April this year, this publication reported on an incident of about 52 missing worshippers from EL Tabernacle Holy Ghost Ministry Church, who after four days of their disappearance, were located.
It was earlier alleged that the congregants had left together with their pastor to Madagascar, but were later found at Mananga Mountain situated near Shewula and Mafucula in the Lubombo Region.
Several parents of the pupils who formed part of the search party from Mhlangatane condemned the action by the church and alleged that they were not informed that their children would be going away.
They accused the church leaders of not seeking permission from them as parents before leaving with the minors.
This publication reported that church members had been reported missing alongside their Pastor, Jeremiah Kunene. Kunene is also the Head teacher of Ntsinini High School.
The members were located by residents of Mhlangatane
and police officers from Lomahasha, Buhleni and Pigg’s Peak. Assistant Superintendent Dino Nzalo was among the police officers who also took the journey to the mountain top, where the church members were located. At the time the police arrived, the mountain top was said to have been cold and wet as it was raining.
This, however, did not discourage some of the members from insisting that they needed to remain on the mountain for prayer. Concerns were raised by some of the members of the search party that the environment was not safe for minors.
According to some of the residents who were part of the search team, they also found babies among the worshippers at the mountain. “Some were even breastfeeding,” claimed a resident. The church members’ location came to be known when one of the cellphones of those who had travelled with the pastor had not been switched off and it rang while the congregants were on the mountain.
Mountain
Furthermore, some of the residents around Mafucula also gave information that they had seen some people heading towards the mountain. It was with this information at their disposal that the residents and the police searched until they were able to locate the worshippers.
Mthunzi Luhlanga, who is the former Chairperson of Ntsinini High School, confirmed at the time that 13 people, including children, had returned. He said of these, the eldest person was 65 years old. Some of the worshippers, however, remained at the mountain, saying they wanted to continue with their prayer.
Luhlanga, who is also the Chairperson of the Inner Council around Ndvwabangeni area in Mhlangatane, said the children who returned were handed over to their parents. None of them seemed to have been harmed.