We are doing our best to assist family - police
should drag the two men, including my brother, to the South African side, where they would proceed without any disturbance.
“The police watched as this happened and most shocking was that even the soldiers manning the borderline watched and did nothing to prevent the loss of life,” alleged the deceased’s sister.
The two men are said to have been dragged, brutally assaulted and were eventually tied with ropes, upside down to a tree, estimated to be over two kilometres from the borderline of Eswatini.
“A van was seen coming from the SA side, where drinks, bread and sour milk were delivered to the mob, and they were seen having lunch as they proceeded with their quest to get a confession through violent means.
“My brother and the other man were both dripping blood profusely,” alleged Sonto.
The two men were then dragged into a forest and this is when the police allegedly left the scene. “We assumed they had gone to call for back-up, but that was not the case,” alleged Sonto. She said the three soldiers manning the borderline also left the scene.
Initially, one of the residents
Dconfession
WALILE - Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed the murder of a man, but stated that it happened on the South African side.
“That matter is being handled by the South African Police and some people have been arrested in connection to the murder. We are doing our best to assist the family,” said Vilakati. On the allegations that the station commander and three other cops are alleged to have watched as the deceased was tortured and dragged into the SA side of the borderline, Vilakati refused to respond until she conducted her own investigations. There were also other allegations on why the police failed to call for backup when the mob refused to surrender the deceased to them, Vilakati also refused to respond to that question.
This publication also wanted to know why the police and the soldiers failed to prevent the loss of life, Vilakati also shunned away who preferred to remain anonymous, disclosed to this publication that on the previous day, there was a party which was held where beverages were shared by more than 120 residents.
“We saw them having a meeting at the sports ground next to Dwalile High and Primary School and we knew that they were planning to do something concerning the escalating numbers of livestock theft in the area, as almost all those who had been victims to the crime were among those in the meeting, which later seemed to be a party,” revealed the resident.
The nephew, who requested that his name be kept anonymous in fear of the same violent treatment, told this publication that after the angry mob took his uncle into the bushes, they couldn’t follow what later transpired, but only hoped as a family that Mciniseli was still alive.
“We returned home as the heavy rains came hard again that afternoon and woke up the next morning (Monday) and went into the forests on the SA side to search for my uncle.
“We searched until 3pm and we found him unconscious in the bushes and we knew he was dead. from this question raised during the interview.
Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) Public Affairs Officer 2nd Lieutenant Tengetile Khumalo when asked on the allegations of soldiers manning the Malutha borderline who chose to stand by as the mob, dragged and eventually killed Mciniseli, said
“We called Mankayane Police Station and informed them of the grisly find, but they told us that the area was beyond their jurisdiction. However, they said they would call their SA counterparts to attend to the matter,” disclosed the nephew.
According to the nephew, the SA cops arrived the following day (Tuesday) to fetch the corpse.
implicating
“Which means that my uncle’s corpse spent another night in the forest and we were afraid to touch or carry it to Eswatini because we feared implicating ourselves to the crime,” disclosed the nephew.
Indvuna yeMcuba Hlomeyakhe Maseko, disclosed that the attack and subsequent death of the deceased was reported to him.
“The Zwane family reported the passing of their relative and I am sceptical to comment on this matter because people turn out to be violent these days.
“However, the farmers have approached me and requested a meeting with the bereaved family, but I referred them to the police as they are the ones who can monitor a peace-binding meeting and prevent further bloodshed in the community,” pointed out Maseko. the allegations were untrue.
“The implication of the alleged UEDF personnel manning the operational area is untrue and seeks to discredit the establishment in the eyes of all citizens. Having said that, it is very imperative to note that the Army’s core interest is to ensure protection thereof,” pointed out Khumalo.