Attack could be politically motivated - Khumalo

NHLANGANO – Swazis First Democratic Front (SFDF) Shiselweni Regional Chairperson Thabiso Khumalo, whose home was petrol-bombed, suspects that the arson is politically motivated.

The incident happened at Hluti next to Florence Christian High School, where Khumalo’s home is situated.

Narrating events before the incident; Khumalo stated that he was from the Muzi Mmema Branch launch at Ntondozi and had left with fellow members who reside in the Shiselweni Region. He stated that he went to drop each and every one of them in their different homesteads and then headed home after 7pm.

Khumalo said he went home to collect a few items he needed, including laundry as the idea was not to spend the night at his home after having communicated with his wife that it was no longer safe for him. It was gathered that there was no one at home over the weekend as their children had visited their grandmother’s place along with their mother.

Phone

He narrated that when he arrived at the homestead, he went to the house leaving the car opened as he intended to step in and out of the house. He said he then decided to charge his cellphone and stayed a little longer as he was yet to collect all the things he was supposed to leave with.

“I heard a loud bang from the window and at first I thought it was a gunshot and I ran to another room,” he narrated. Khumalo shared that he then saw flames coming from his room and quickly stepped out of the house and ran towards a neighbour’s home where he raised the alarm.

He stated that they ran back home and tried to put out the fire by pouring water on it. He said as they checked around the house, they noticed that the arsonists had also broken a few windows as they were throwing stones. Khumalo added that they also noted that his car was opened but nothing was taken. He said there was money and another cellphone in the car.

Attack

The arson attack happened just when Khumalo had returned home from hiding after the assassination of Mmema as he also received threats and had to flee. He added that he told the police about the threats and his intentions to go into hiding. He came back on January 15, 2023 because schools were about to open and he had to report to work. Khumalo said he had been lying low all along.

Khumalo said he had reasons to believe that the arsonist(s) was following him when he dropped the other people and made his way home. He also said that he believed they were targeting his life personally as there was no one home on Friday, but the arson happened just when he got back home. When asked who he thought could be behind the attack, Khumalo said he did not want to commit but he believed the attack was politically motivated. After the incident, Khumalo shared that he had to flee to neighbouring SA for his safety.

When reached for a comment Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer Inspector Nosipho Mnguni confirmed that the incident was reported to the police. She stated that they were still going to do further investigations into the matter.