OSSU raids training camp of about 100 youths
SIGANGENI - A police paramilitary unit raided a physical training camp for about 100 youths in a rural home, at Sigangeni, near the kingdom’s border with South Africa.
The Operational Support Services Unit (OSSU) raided the homestead in the still of the night, on Monday, acting on a tip-off by members of the community, who did not understand the nature of the training.
Members of the community raised the security alert when they occasionally saw the contingent of young men and women training vigorously, and assumed the activity was of a political nature.
However, it turned out that the training was orchestrated by a security company, which had just won a tender in a large forestry company.
The name of the security company will not be revealed, for now, pending investigations by the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS).
Searched
The law enforcers further searched the rooms, which are used to house the trainees, during the duration of the training. After satisfying themselves that there was no element of criminality that was going on, the officers from the tactical unit left the homestead.
“The police raided the homestead as it was suspected that the training was politically driven. When they arrived at the homestead, they were convinced that there were criminal activities going on and that the training was politically motivated,” said the source.
The compound has two big houses, one being a three-bedroom house and the other has four rooms.
The head of the homestead is a manager in the security company.
During the raid, some trainees told the Times of Eswatini that everyone was ordered to vacate the houses and lie on the yard of the homestead.
Armed
“The officers were armed and they made us lie down, before searching us. Others ransacked the houses. One of us, who was wearing a T-shirt of the South African Trade Union (SATU), was vigorously questioned on his political affiliation,” said a trainee.
After the police had satisfied themselves that the convergence at the homestead was only similar to a boot camp, they withdrew their operation.
On the following day, according to an impeccable source, police officers, who were travelling in five cars, arrived at the homestead, where they again conducted a search, but also left after having satisfied themselves that there was no criminal activity.
When reached for comment, Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Senior Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, confirmed that they received a report about people who were being trained at a certain homestead at Sigangeni.
“We got the report and we discovered that it was a security company. We have advised them accordingly,” said Vialakati.
Meanwhile, on the day of the raid, Times senior journalists visited the homestead to investigate the activities.
A group of about 10 men and a woman were found rolling on the ground, while another, who was later referred to as the instructor, issued orders.
Upon seeing the visitors, the instructors stopped the process and everyone went into the main house, where they were heard murmuring their dissatisfaction with the visitors.
In the verandah of both houses were several pairs of shoes and sneakers, purportedly belonging to the trainees in the house.
Some watched through the corners of the houses, as if to curiously investigate the mission of the news team.
A dome camp tent had been erected in the midst of tall grass, probably as a training facility.
Inside one of the houses, that was referred to as a hostel, there were no mattresses or beds – none that could be used by about 100 people. The hostels also lacked facilities, such as wardrobes, as clothes were hung on walls and some were kept in bags.
Other homesteads are a stone’s throw from the homestead where the security training is conducted.
There is a sports ground in the area, which was said to be used by the company for the physical training.
Meanwhile, another source said the course was meant to last for a week, after which the trainees would be awarded certificates.
“We used to train in Matsapha, but the place became small, and we moved to Sigangeni, where we have more allowance to physically flex ourselves during training,” the source said,
The trainees said they were bitter about the police raid.
“We felt belittled and our privacy was violated. Even after we had explained our mission, they kept probing, as if we were criminals,” the source said.