Lobola money could be reason behind businessman’s murder
MANZINI – Businessman Sifiso Simelane may have been killed for money he had to pay bride price with.
This information has emerged following the arrest of four people who are linked to the murder of the businessman.
The quartet was arrested over the weekend in a breakthrough over the murder of Simelane, who was brutally assassinated on January 22, 2024. Simelane of Bethany, Mahlanya under Lobamba Lomdzala Constituency, was gruesomely murdered by a gang of thugs, who slit his throat open after robbing him of his items, including a car, money which was in his safe and bank cards, among other things.
His body was found dumped in a forest around Malkerns.
Suspect
According to sources, on Saturday, a female suspect was handed over by his lawyer to the Serious Crimes Unit - Lukhozi – at the Manzini Regional Police Headquarters.
The suspect, aged 42, *Merlyn, was said to have known about the murder following allegations that she had approached another female, *Shakira, 34 seeking financial assistance.
According to sources, Shakira was close to the deceased businessman and supposedly informed Merlyn that she did not have money to help her, but knew where they could get money.
The sources claimed that this response got the attention of Merlyn and that was when they hatched the plan to rob the businessman. It was alleged that the two females organised four people who would rob the businessman as it was supposed that there was money in his safe that was saved towards paying lobola.
The money, according to sources, was in excess of E40 000.
It was alleged that Merlyn invited her brother into the plan to rob the businessman, while Shakira roped in three other people. It was unclear who issued the instruction to murder Simelane as the intention was to rob him of the money.
According to sources, the pair was arrested with another duo of males aged 24. They are said to be currently in police custody, assisting the law enforcers with information which would lead to the arrest of two other suspects.
It is worth noting that on February 6, 2024, the Royal Eswatini Police
Service (REPS) issued a mug shot of Selby ‘Sgaga’ Dlamini of Mangozeni, a shanty town located in Malkerns.
Dlamini, aged 42, according to the police, is wanted for robbery and they appealed to the public to share information of his whereabouts. Those with information were requested to contact the Regional Crime Branch Officer (RCBO), Thabo Hlophe, at 7606 8570 or Junior Dlamini at 7618 6763 or the investigating officer Ayanda Dlamini at 7603 3449.
It was gathered the police suspected that Dlamini had information that could also assist the police regarding the kidnapping, robbery and gruesome murder of Simelane. At the time of his murder, Simelane operated various businesses around Matsapha, some of which belong to his family. These include The Gallery Hotel.
At the time of his murder, Simelane was at his home, when he received a call from people who claimed they wanted to deliver tyres for him. It was said the men made an arrangement that Simelane should meet them in Matsapha, so that they could arrange where the truck, which was supposedly coming from the neighbouring Republic of South Africa, would deliver the tyres.
It was gathered that the businessman agreed to meet them and they went to one of his family’s businesses in Matsapha, which they rent out. When they arrived at the business premises, this publication reported on January 22, 2024, that the security guard at the premises, where the tyres were to be supposedly delivered, was bundled into the boot of a vehicle.
On the other hand, the suspects demanded the bank account PIN and the security code of the safe. The suspects who eventually killed Simelane reportedly drove to the businessman’s home, where they found his wife asleep.
It was said they woke her up by assaulting her with bush knives and tied her with tape as well. They reportedly spent about an hour and they stole money and other valuables from the safe, television set, closed circuit television (CCTV)decoder and alcoholic beverages.
The suspects further stole two vehicles from Simelane, which were a Mercedes-Benz LDV and also a BMW sedan. The robbers reportedly drove to a forest next to Malkerns Research, where they gruesomely murdered him by slitting his throat open.
It was said that after brutally taking the businessman’s life, they proceeded to some automated teller machines
(ATMs) around Matsapha and withdrew an undisclosed amount of money. Some of the suspects were said to have also visited one of the eateries in Matsapha to buy meals and one of the liquor outlets to purchase booze.
Deputy Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Assistant Superintendent Nosipho Mnguni confirmed that four suspects were arrested by the police. She said police were still continuing with their investigations.