Journalists turned away at Khanyile’s funeral
PIGG’S PEAK – It is a norm for media to show interest in covering burials of personalities whose manner of death impacted the society.
However, when journalists from the Times of Eswatini showed up for media coverage of a burial of Mandiso Khanyile, a relative said the family was still devastated about the incident, especially the mother who was still mourning the death of her son.
OUTCRY
Khanyile is said to have shot dead his wife Nosipho Dube before turning the gun on himself.
The incident sparked an outcry as it was alleged that Khanyile used the same gun that had been confiscated by the police after he had used it on his wife in June 2023. There were concerns about how he was in possession of a gun that was supposed to be under police custody.
On November 5, 2023, the Chief Police Information and Communications Officer, Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, said the police were still inquiring how the weapon was released to Khanyile.
EXCUSE
Asking the journalists to excuse them, the relative said the deceased and his mother shared a very strong bond.
He said it would be inappropriate for the media personnel to be present at the funeral because it would affect some family members emotionally, especially due to the previous social media and print media coverage about the incident.
The family member did not go into details about which aspect of the previous coverage with which the family was not happy about.
He stressed that the media coverage was not good.
Another family member described the media coverage as biased and inconsiderate of surviving family members.
Further, the relative to the deceased then asked the media personnel from the Times of Eswatini to leave as the environment might not be conducive for them.
Khanyile was laid to rest yesterday morning at Mbeka, an area about 10 kilometres from Pigg’s Peak. There was no vigil at the homestead though a tent had been pitched for the 4am service.
A prayer service was held before the deceased’s body was finally taken to the resting place near the homestead.