3 still on the run, parents to hand over 2

PIGG’S PEAK – Police officers have vowed not to leave any stone unturned in the search for all the people who allegedly assaulted a police officer.

The police officer was assaulted on October 15, 2021.

Though six people have already been arrested in connection with the assault, police officers are also still looking for the three others. It was gathered that parents to two of these assured the officers that they would hand them over to the police.

Meanwhile, Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Viakati confirmed that three more people were still wanted by the police. She also noted that of these, parents of two had assured that they would be handed over to the police. “We hope that by the end of the day (yesterday), we will have them behind bars,” said Vilakati.

The arrested people are expected to appear in court today (Wednesday).

Before October 15, 2021, very few emaSwati ever heard of a place called Matitila.

However, on that day, a video was trending on social media with the name Matitila, Nkomazi. It was a video of two police officers being assaulted.

Both officers are based at Pigg’s Peak Police Station. The officers had responded to calls of people blocking the road with rocks. One of the officers was attacked. The other tried to intervene but he was also assaulted, forcing him to flee.

In the video, a woman’s voice could be heard shouting mshayeni, more voices were then heard saying shaya, shaya.

Later, police officers from OSSU are said to have been deployed. When OSSU officers arrived, some residents said shots were fired to disperse the crowd. During this commotion, some of the residents picked up stones and pelted an armed police officer. It is alleged that due to the number of stones hitting him, the officer is said to have fallen. He was allegedly hit with a sharp object on the head as he had a gashing wound when he was taken to the hospital. The residents also took away his firearm.