Times of Eswatini

3 armed SA men stuck in sugar cane fields, arrested

- BY KWANELE DLAMINI

MBABANE - The armed South African men who terrorised residents of Tshaneni and Nkambeni were caught after getting lost in the maze of sugar cane at Tshaneni.

Security personnel who were on patrol allegedly found the trio of Jethro Seyama (48) of KaShali, Christophe­r Mthombeni (38) of Mangweni South Africa, Eric Adams (26) of Soweto, South Africa, confused as to how to make it out of the sugar cane fields. They are alleged to have been in a shootout with members of Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) along the borderline on their way to escape through an informal crossing point to South Africa.

They found themselves lost in the sugar cane fields, according to Constable Colani Madlopha, who is attached to the Criminal investigat­ions Department (CID) based at Tshaneni Police Station. The security personnel handed the accused persons to the police after finding them in the sugar cane fields. Mthombeni, who is a security guard in his home country, filed an applicatio­n for bail at the High Court. He told the court that he was a breadwinne­r and took care of his unemployed mother. The Crown opposed his applicatio­n.

Madlopha, in an opposing affidavit, said it was not in the interest of justice to release the accused on bail. Mthombeni appears in the matter in person, while Crown Counsel Precious Dlamini represents the Crown.

According to Madlopha, investigat­ions revealed that Mthombeni and his co-accused had come into Eswatini to buy dagga for resale in their home country. He said while in Eswatini,

Mthombeni and his co-accused allegedly committed three robberies and in one of the offences they had allegedly forcefully taken a motor vehicle from its owner at gunpoint. The investigat­or informed the court that their investigat­ions revealed that the motor vehicle was to be used as a getaway car after the commission of the offences.

“I submit that the applicant (Mthombeni) and his co-accused committed the offences and had successful­ly got away only to be stuck, stranded and be directionl­ess in sugar cane fields at Tshaneni. I submit that they came into the country for the purpose of purchasing stock of dagga and he and his co-accused robbed a person at gunpoint and took his motor vehicle.

Spreading

“News started spreading in the small town of Tshaneni to the effect that robberies were committed, a motor vehicle forcefully taken from its owner and people in the small town were on the lookout for the perpetrato­rs of these offences,” narrated Madlopha.

He told the court that Mthombeni and the others managed to evade the police for days until they were found by security personnel in the sugar cane fields at Tshaneni, after they had abandoned the stolen vehicle. This was after a shootout with soldiers along the borderline. One of the accused persons was shot during the shootout.

“I submit that the sugar cane fields are such that in between the large plantation­s, there are roads which lead to different destinatio­ns. The applicant and his co-accused were caught by security personnel, who patrol the sugar cane fields, still deciding which way to use as an com, escape route.

“The security personnel had gotten informatio­n to the effect that there were men who were terrorisin­g the small town with acts of criminalit­y. The security personnel asked the applicant and his co-accused what they were doing in the sugar cane fields and they failed to give a clear answer,” added Madlopha.

The investigat­or informed the court that the security guards noticed that one of the accused persons was limping, barefoot and bleeding.

“It was then that the security personnel knew that something was amiss. I submit that the applicant and his co-accused were brought to us by the security personnel who patrol the sugar cane fields at Tshaneni.

“I submit that upon conducting further investigat­ions, we found one of the victim’s wallet in the possession of the applicant and he had put his own stuff in the wallet. It is worth mentioning that the applicant has attached to his applicatio­n a charge sheet which does not reflect all the charges he is facing.”

“I submit that the sugar cane fields are such that in between the large plantation­s there are roads which lead to different destinatio­ns. Mthombeni and his co-accused were caught still deciding which route to use as an escape route by security personnel who patrol the sugar cane fields.

“He is a South African national and has nothing to bind him to the Kingdom of Eswatini.”

The accused persons face five counts, three counts of robbery, one of housebreak­ing and theft and another for being in the country illegally. The offences were committed in November 2022.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Eswatini