Security guards forced us to confess - residents
TORTURE:
They are alleged to be terrorising employees and community members in the name of trying to recover lost herds of cattle, which they believe were stolen by either the employees or certain community members.
MBABANE - Security guards are allegedly taking justice into their own hands. These are Richmond Estate Security Guards, an estate found along the main road towards the Lavumisa border. The guards are alleged to be illegally issuing unorthodox investigative methods on suspects at Mahangeni, Nsoko.
They are alleged to be terrorising employees and community members in the name of trying to recover lost herds of cattle, which they believe were stolen by either the employees or certain community members.
The recent incident allegedly happened last weekend, where three employees were allegedly tortured in pursuit of a confession for cattle theft.
Impeccable sources within the estate allege that one of the employees was subjected to intense torture to the point where he ended up soiling himself.
Forced
He was forced to seek medical attention as he complained of severe pain from the injuries. The employee was alleged to have complained of chest pains, severe headaches and blurry vision.
“He was bleeding from the ears as a result of the torture,” alleged the source .
Speaking for himself after being seen by a doctor, the assaulted employee, Menzi ‘Rhu’ Dlamini, alleged that this was the worst experience of his life. “I was tied with a rope, and thrown into a crocodile-infested dam, while the security personnel were shouting that I must confess to have stolen cattle or they would not pull me out of the river ,” alleged Dlamini.
It was further alleged that the suspected employees were thrown into the estate cattle dip tank.
The active cattle dip tank contains chemicals meant for livestock and are dangerous if ingested by humans.
This is where the employees confessed to the crimes, which they claimed they did not commit.
Dlamini said he was taken in the presence of other colleagues. He alleged that three security guards told him he was called by the estate manager, to which he complied. He said he did not realise there were seven other security guards who were waiting for him out of sight.
“The sole intention of the security guards was nothing but to remove me from the crowd without alerting them of their interrogation plans,” added Dlamini .
denied
Ranch Manager Moses Mthembu denied any knowledge of the issue of torture, and said he was the wrong person to answer on that matter. “I was not around and I only learned of the issue you are mentioning when I returned on Monday,” he said when called by this reporter.
Mthembu insisted that the investigation and apprehension of the employees happened when he was not around. He said he was not the right person to answer to anything that relates to the issue as he was unaware of what happened during the weekend.
However, Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Phindile Vilakati confirmed that two people were suspected on the disappearance of two cattle. However, Vilakati said police were forced to conduct their investigations on the matter.
“Police by law and practice are required to investigate before they can make any arrest,” said Vilakati. She said the case was still under police investigation and since the suspects were working around the area, they would be able to have them assist the police in their investigation.
“I was tied with a rope, and then thrown into a crocodile-infested dam.”