5 houses burnt, car vandalised by mob
SITEKI – Three families were left distraught after their houses and a car were burnt by an angry mob amid a bitter wrangle over a sugar cane scheme at KaNgcamphalala, past Siphofaneni.
The mob burnt a rondavel and four other houses before shattering the windows of a Nissan Blue Bird sedan, during the attack.
In the wake of the violence, Roman Mdlovu, the car owner, said he incurred damages to the value of E25 000, as the windscreen, the rear window and bumper were not spared when his car was damaged on Sunday afternoon.
He had to open fire to scare the youth who had proceeded to destroy a spaza shop.
Accused
Slightly over 30 youth members from Goboyane and Mkhalamfence communities, under the KaNgcamphalala Chiefdom, accused certain families of having a hand in the stoppage of a sugar cane project.
It was established that police officers from Big Bend Police Station were called, and recorded statements from the affected families.
It was also gathered that the matter had been reported to traditional leaders, who had since dispatched security forces to maintain order.
The youth accused the Mdlovu, Magagula and Matsenjwa families of influencing the stalling of the project in the midst of a chieftaincy row.
It was gathered that some of the residents in these communities were paying allegiance to the KaNgcamphalala Royal Kraal, while others were loyal to the late Prince Magongo, who was son to Prince Malunge of Enhlanhleni Royal Kraal, at Mbekelweni.
Mdlovu said one rondavel was torched at a Magagula homestead, while clothes were burnt to ashes, while a sliding door and windows to a two-bedroom house were vandalised.
Adding, he stated that the families had to run for safety while no casualties were reported.
He said the arson attack took place at around 10pm on Sunday night.
Mdlovu added that two windows of two houses at a Matsenjwa home were also vandalised.
In the skirmish, the youth is said to have terrorised tenants of some flats, as they vandalised windows and doors, prompting them to abandon the houses and flee to safety.
He stated that some of the families were now living in fear as they were not sure what would happen next.
Mdlovu said the matter had reached the Office of the National Commissioner (NATCOM) of Police William Dlamini, who was asked to dispatch police to patrol the area.
Swiftly
“We are optimistic that the NATCOM will act swiftly and send a team of police to maintain order as we are living in fear, not knowing if our children will be spared from the violence,” Mdlovu said.
One member of the youth, Tenson Magagula, said they would meet traditional leaders of the communities under the KaNgcamphalala Chiefdom to resolve the matter.
Phesheya Sibandze, a nephew to Prince Magongo, said the dispute had dragged for too long.
Sibandze said King Sobhuza II changed Farm 1083 into Eswatini National Land (ENL) after assuming powers from England’s Queen Elizabeth
II.
He further narrated how King Sobhuza II then gave it to the late Prince Malunge as his allocated land (liphakelo).
Adding, Sibandze said the farm was then transferred to Prince Magongo, son to the late Prince Malunge, in 1976.
He shared that Prince Magongo got sick and died in 1979.
“The farm belonged to Prince Magongo but Chief Mshikashika II then allocated it for this project, yet his chieftaincy boundaries go as far as St Philip’s and do not encroach onto Mahlabaneni. We then reported the matter to Liqoqo and were advised that it now touches on royalty, hence we had to seek audience with Their Majesties,” he said.
Furthermore, Sibandze mentioned that the matter was further reported to the Lubombo Regional Administrator (RA), Themba Msibi.
“We then engaged ESWADE on Friday and peacefully asked that their machinery be stopped from tilling the land, as they did not follow the rightful protocol of acquiring it. We were told that on Sunday, a mob destroyed a spaza of Indvuna Mdlovu, who opened fire after seeing that his life was at stake. His car was vandalised hence we have requested the intervention of royalty to provide soldiers to maintain order,” he said.
Attempts
Several attempts were made to reach KaNgcamphalala Umphakatsi Chief, Mshikashika Ngcamphalala on his phone as it rang unanswered .
Lubombo RA Msibi said he got a report from the Lubombo Regional Police Commander, Charles Magagula, about the incident that unfolded on Sunday.
“I am yet to investigate the matter and then if possible, I will then call a meeting to ascertain its merits,” he said.
Liqoqo Chairman Paul Dlamini asked not to comment on the matter.
Meanwhile, Eswatini Agricultural Development Enterprise (ESWADE) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Samson Sithole said he was informed about the matter but was yet to get a formal report about it.
Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent PhindileVilakati said three families reported arson and vandalism to the police, while three people sustained injuries.
“The police have not made arrests but investigations are ongoing,” she said.