Unrest victim suing govt E1m

MBABANE – Government is being sued for E1 million by a resident of Logoba, who was allegedly shot by police officers and warders on June 29, 2021.

In her papers, Zanele Tfokotile Hlophe submitted that she was shot unprovoked while at Logoba on the day in question.

She is represented by DlaminiKunene Attorneys in the matter.

As a result of the shooting, Hlophe stated that she was rushed to the Raleigh Fiktin Memorial Hospital, before she was referred to Philani Hospital and Manzini Clinic, where she was treated and discharged days later.

She stated that her shooting, allegedly by the members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service and His Majesty’s Correctional Services, was unlawful. She submitted that her right to life, as guaranteed in Section 15 of the Constitution, and her right to dignity, as guaranteed under Section 18 of the Constitution, were undermined by the shooting.

Conduct

Hlophe stated that the conduct of the law enforcers was not only a breach of the Police Act and Correctional Services Act but fundamentally a breach of Section 14 (2) of the Constitution, in that they behaved in a manner that failed to respect their obligation, under the Bill of Rights.

She submitted that at all material times, the police officers and the warders were acting within the course and scope of their duty as officers of the law.

Shooting

She mentioned that as a result of the shooting, her legs were injured, so much that she could not stand or walk properly and was still under treatment.

She stated that she also suffered contumelia. Hlophe submitted that she suffered damages in the amount of E1 million.