Bacede spends over 30 minutes consulting with lawyers

MANZINI – Hosea Constituency Member of Parliament ( MP) Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza spent over 30 minutes consulting with lawyers while police waited for him.

The legislator was locked in the car with his lawyer Sifiso Jele, who was in the company of Advocate Mduduzi ‘ Tsotsi’ Mabila. The pair arrived at Ngwane Park at the MP’s residence at about 4: 45pm. The pair’s arrival was almost simultaneous with that of Senior Superintendent Clement Sihlongonyane, who arrived with other officers. Upon arrival, the lawyers engaged with the police briefly before approaching Mabuza’s vehicle. For a moment, they had to engage Mabuza through a partially opened window as he wanted assurance that the police would not seek to gain entry with them.

This was when Advocate Mabila assured him that they had engaged them and they would not do that. This was followed by Mabuza unlocking his vehicle and the pair joining him. The trio engaged extensively inside the car with frequent calls made by Advocate Mabila to Manzini Regional Crime Branch Officer, Senior Superintendent Thabo Hlophe, outlining how they were going to hand over Mabuza.

One of the conditions was that he would alight from his vehicle and board a police vehicle that was being driven by Hlophe.

Surrendering

At one instance, he was also heard establishing from Hlophe on where they would take Mabuza upon surrendering himself.

To this, Hlophe was heard saying Manzini; however, he was corrected by Senior Superintendent Sihlongonyane, who said they would be headed to Mbabane.

During the engagement between Mabuza and the attorneys, the patience of the police was seemingly running thin as they would now and then tell Hlophe that the arrest warrants stated that they should be effected before sunset.

While the attorneys were engaging, Advocate Mabila was also heard requesting that the police be patient with them as they were also awaiting someone that the legislator would hand over everything to.

Finally, a woman working for Mabuza arrived and she joined them in the SUV the legislator had been sitting in. They engaged for quite some time before she was given keys to the legislator’s other car, an Audi RS.

After finishing his business with the lawyers, Mabuza alighted from the SUV and requested to go to the restroom. This was agreed to and he then headed to his car again wherein he picked a jacket before walking to the back of the van.

While moving to the back of the police van, the police were also securing the area to ensure that there was nothing out of the agreed terms that took place. He left his residence at about 5: 37pm with two police vehicles escorting him.