‘My family was harassed’

K– The head of the homestead where four people died mysteriously at related how he had clues on possible suspects in the death of his family.

David Hleta said prior to their death, his wife and children had explained to him that they had been attacked.

“They were attacked while erecting a fence in the area. Some people thought they were blocking a path and even went as far as forcefully removing the fence,” he said.

Meanwhile, he also explained that there were controversies during the funeral of the four, after some people preferred to bury them in Mbabane while he wanted them buried at KaNcesi.

Dictated

“Even when the police arrived carrying a court order, they tore it to pieces, saying they would not be dictated to by the police.”

He said the people who argued with him were other relatives of the deceased who blamed him for the deaths.

“I tried to ask them why they thought I would kill my own family, but they could not give me a clearer picture. I loved my family because they were the only people closest to me,” he said.

Hleta said after the accident he personally led a life docked by misfortune and poverty following the death of his wife.

Hleta said he had no food to eat and was poverty stricken. He said he had lost his job in a pulp production plant around Pigg’s Peak, but still stayed within the compound because he had no money to return to his home at KaNcesi.

He said at one time, he had decided to go back to his home at kaNcesi but was involved in an accident that caused him several injuries.

Approached

“I was waiting at a bus station where a truck carrying bags of fertiliser approached. There was a driver and passenger in the truck. The driver asked me if I knew the way to a particular home and I responded to the affirmative. However, they then asked to go with me so I could show them the way. I obliged, but as the truck drove down a steep heel near KaSobantu it developed brake failure and overturned, that is how I was severely injured,” he said.

Hleta said he had been receiving treatment at the Pigg’s Peak Government Hospital and was wating response from the Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund on his claim.