Police shoot MP’s son after curfew

MBABANE – Hhukwini Member of Parli ament Nkhanyeti Ngwenya’s son is said to have nearly had his arms amputated because of gunshot wounds allegedly inflicted by the police.

The MP’s son, identified as Mlondi, was shot last week while at Corporation, Msunduza, under Mbabane East Inkhundla in Mbabane.

Mlondi was reportedly in violation of the government- imposed curfew of between 5am and 8pm when he was shot, allegedly by the police.

Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed the shooting.

DRINKING ALCOHOL

She said this happened at around 10pm when police were trying to disperse a group of people who were drinking alcohol while gathered behind an unidentified homestead.

“Investigations are still ongoing regarding the matter, but the matter was reported to the police station,” Vilakati said.

Mlondi refused to talk to this publication when he was reached on his mobile phone yesterday morning.

“There is nothing I want to say regarding this matter,” he said and also refused that a team from this publication come to him physically for an interview.

His father, however, confirmed the incident but preferred not to get into the details because of personal reasons.

“Yes I can confirm this and I am currently in discussion with the police who are conducting investigations on the matter,” he said.

Impeccable sources disclosed to the Times SUNDAY that when the police arrived where the group had gathered, some of Mlondi’s friends ran away because they were aware that they were in violation of the laid down curfew.

MINIMISE MOVEMENT

On June 29, 2021 the then Acting Prime Minister, Themba Masuku, announced a 6pm to 5am curfew whose purpose was to minimise unnecessary movement and to ensure the safety and security of emaSwati.

This was after the country experienced unprecedented riots that resulted in the looting and burning of shops and businesses amid protests from people demanding political reforms.

On July 16, 2021, the curfew was reviewed and Masuku announced that it had been extended to between 8pm and 5am, which is what still stands.

It is alleged that Mlondi’s friends fled, he remained behind and engaged in an exchange of words with the police.

“The police were apparently incensed with what Mlondi said and this resulted in them shooting him at close range,” one of the sources alleged.

The MP’s son was reportedly shot in both hands and had to be transported to hospital by his friends who organised him transport after the police allegedly drove off after the shooting.

Mlondi was reportedly taken to Mbabane Government Hospital before he transferred himself to the Mbabane Clinic.

AMPUTATED

“We are told that nurses at the Mbabane Government Hospital told him that he would have to be amputated but he opted to seek a second opinion at the Mbabane Clinic where they, surprisingly, said there would be no need to amputate him as the injuries were treatable,” the source related.

Another source stated that Mlondi’s father did not take kindly to the police shooting his son even if he had violated the curfew rules.

“The MP believes that the police should have arrested his son if he had broken the law instead of shooting him. He wants this matter dealt with and those officers responsible for shooting his son to be brought to justice,” the source said.

It is said that after the MP took up the matter, police officers were seen back at the scene where the shooting occurred and they were apparently taking pictures as part of evidence related to what happened.

The police normally conduct night patrols to ensure that people adhered to the curfew and there are a lot of allegations on what usually happens to those found on the streets after the stipulated time.

CURFEW

When the curfew began, it was the army that people were mostly afraid of coming across but the defence force officers are no longer visible on the streets and it is believed that they have returned to the barracks after having managed to contain the mayhem that ensued during the pro- democracy protests.

On the same weekend that Mlondi was shot, a police officer identified as Twenty Dlamini allegedly shot and killed two young men, Mcolisi ‘ Sgubhu’ Nyoni and Mpostoli Masilela, while at Lomahasha, near KaTolo.

The police officer now faces two charges of murder in that he allegedly unlawfully and intentionally killed the two young men.