Family demands more answers from police

DWALILE -The family of the late Mciniseli Zwane demands more answers from the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS).

Speaking on behalf of the family, Sonto Zwane, the sister of the deceased said they had a litany of concerns on the way the police handled the case of her brother on that fateful day, when he was eventually killed by the mob of over 50 residents on the South African side of the borderline.

“I am still shocked at the way the police behaved on that particular day. They failed to prevent the loss of life. I am worried if they still have guns or tear gas because they didn’t use those to disperse the mob that had already tied my brother and another man with ropes.

The police, including the Mankayane station commander, watched as my brother and the other were assaulted, tortured and dragged over the borderline into South Africa,” alleged Sonto.

Sonto went on to wonder why the station commander did not call for backup if they felt they were outnumbered by the mob, while they were still on Eswatini soil.

“I was also shocked by the soldiers who are manning the borderline at Malutha, as just like the cops ,they watched as my late brother was tortured to death. Yes, we do understand the jurisdiction but under these circumstances, the police and the army have a duty to protect and prevent the loss of life, regardless of the laws I believe,” she said .

A fiancée to the deceased disclosed to this publication that she has since opened a case at the Mankayane Police Station on the above.

Furthermore, she disclosed that the family was making preparations to go and fetch the body from a mortuary in SA, so he may be buried.