Deceased was the late Maswazi's daughter

MBABANE – Ayanda Sibandze, the woman who was killed in an apparent murder-suicide on Thursday, was the daughter of the renowned late deputy sheriff, Maswazi Sibandze.

Ayanda’s father rose to fame with the infamous ‘grab-a-cow’ exercise he meted out on people who were debtors of SwaziBank in the 1980s.

Ayanda was shot and killed by the late Prince Mkhatshwa’s son, Mlandvo, her boyfriend, who then turned the gun on himself. The incident occurred on Thursday morning at around 4 o’clock, after the couple had reportedly been drinking, outside the Lozitha Royal Kraal.

When Ayanda’s homestead, at Extension III in Mbabane, was visited on Friday, a sombre mood was evident, even in the face of the maid who was found removing clothes from the washing line.

The deceased’s mother, was also clearly in a solemn mood, refused to speak much with the media, save to say she was grieving.

She said she was not happy that the story of her daughter’s tragic death was splashed across the front pages of the country’s newspapers before her next of kin had been formally informed.

Furthermore, she was concerned that the story was published without comment having been sought from them.

She said she was not going to take this lying down and promised: "I am going to lodge a complaint. I will see as to whom I will lodge the complaint with."

Asked if she had anything to say regarding Ayanda’s death, she replied: "As a grieving parent, I have no comment at the moment."

Ayanda was well-known in social circles, especially at Msunduza, in Mbabane, where she had multitudes of friends.

She is survived by a young child, her mother, Brother Leon and sister Khosi, a soldier.

It has since transpired that the gun which was used by the deceased to end his life and that of his girlfriend belonged to Abednego Kuseni Hlophe popularly known as AK. Mlandvo is said to have stolen the gun while Hlophe, who is former King Sobhuza II’s Private Secretary, was asleep.

Ludzidzini Acting Governor, TV Mthethwa, said the body of the deceased will have to be buried soon as the Incwala ceremony is ongoing. He said as per Swazi cultural dictates, the deceased has to be buried soon as there is the Incwala ceremony.

"As you know that Incwala is ongoing the deceased has to be buried soon as per the dictates of our culture. There are no other rituals that are going to be performed, but the deceased had to be buried soon," he said.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: