Man shot by police, undergoes surgery

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MBABANE – While dispersing marchers in the capital city on Thursday, police allegedly shot a man in the leg with live ammunition.

Sphiwayinkhosi Nxumalo had to undergo surgery at the Mbabane Government Hospital yesterday, to remove the bullet after it pierced through his flesh and bone, leaving him with a broken leg.

Nxumalo was at the Mbabane city centre on Thursday where a crowd of protesters set out to march to the High Court premises calling for the release of Mthandeni Dube, Member of Parliament ( MP) for Ngwempisi Constituency, and Bacede Mabuza, MP for the Hosea Constituency.

INJURED

The severity of Nxumalo’s injury was shown through a video shared on social media platforms Facebook and Twitter, which was captured by people who were assisting him after he was shot. The video shows Nxumalo’s injured leg covered in blood and a group of three men trying to wrap it with what appeared to be a strip of clothing to stop the bleeding.

Upon learning that Nxumalo was admitted to the Mbabane Government Hospital, this reporter paid him a visit. He was in the company of two relatives who were by his bedside.

They confirmed that the man laying on the hospital bed was indeed Nxumalo whose video went viral on social media after allegedly being shot by the police in the leg.

Languishing in obvious pain, Nxumalo, who spoke softly, said he was from surgery and he needed privacy to heal before he could entertain any questions from the media. He suggested that this reporter should at least come back today to conduct the interview.

PROTEST

“This occurrence is very hurtful to me and I can’t speak right now. Please come back tomorrow ( today) for an interview,” he said.

This was after a question was posed to him to narrate the events that took place leading up to him being shot and whether he was part of the protest or not.

He did, however, mention that he was shot along the road opposite the Ministry of Agriculture leading to the Mbabane Government Hospital.

It is yet to be confirmed if indeed it was live ammunition or a rubber bullet as that information

MBABANE - National Commissioner of Pol i ce William Dlamini denied that there was any live ammunition used on Thursday.

He said police are given working tools, including the ammunition, by their supervisors and on Thursday, no supervisor gave out any live ammunition for use to disperse the protesters.

“There is no way that live ammunition could have been used on the protesters because no police officer was given such. It was only rubber bullets that were issued to the police officers for use to disperse the people, not live ammunition,” he said.

Dlamini said if anything, the alleged victim should open a case so that the matter could be investigated.

remains an allegation and yet to be confirmed.

According to when fired at close range, rubber bullets can also penetrate the skin, break bones, fracture the skull and explode the eyeball.

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