Times Of Swaziland: FAMILY WANTS NOKWANDA TO SURRENDER

FAMILY WANTS NOKWANDA TO SURRENDER
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BY MMELI MKWANAZI on 11/02/2021 00:24:00


MBABANE – A relative of one of the female inmate who escaped at Mawelawela
Correctional facility has come out to state that they wished for the teenager to
surrender herself.
The teenager, Nokwanda Nyawo (19) from Our Lady near kaMasibambisane Shop and
Nothando Dlamini (27) escaped while still awaiting trial at the Mawelawela
Correctional Facility last Wednesday night.
It has been exactly a week since the duo escaped and sources close to the matter
and privy to the information on the escape of the stated that there were
suspicions that the ‘prison break’ was planned weeks prior.
Trial
One of the sources divulged that the escapees were awaiting trial as the teenage
suspect was arrested in connection with alleged theft while Dlamini was put
behind bars in connection with a housebreaking and theft charge.
He said according to information that was gathered from the other inmates, the
escapees orchestrated the prison break allegedly with some men from outside.
In fact, the insider said the men in question were believed to be boyfriends of
the escapees.
The source further divulged that it was observed that they escaped through one
of the prison’s windows and this was after they damaged the burglar bars from
the window and escaped with a blanket from the cell they occupied to protect
themselves from being injured by the razor-wired fence which they jumped over.
However, it is worth mentioning that the suspects were arrested for totally
different offences which occurred in different occasions.
When this publication spoke to Nokwanda’s relatives; an aunt who spoke on
condition of anonymity, disclosed that they did not know of the teenager’s
whereabouts ever since she escaped from prison.
She affirmed that Nokwanda had two children aged five and two, but they stayed
at their paternal home.
She further disclosed that Nokwanda did not complete school since she quit while
still doing her primary education at St Juliana Primary School and then went to
live in South Africa with her mother who now resided at her marital homestead at
Jericho in the Shiselweni Region.
“Nokwanda never stayed with us since she stayed in Pongola, South Africa,
where she lived with her mother and we only saw her during Christmas holidays
and she is hard to find as she does not have a cellphone,” she said.
On another note, the aunt said Nokwanda’s father was mentally challenged and,
therefore, could not be contacted for comment.
She went on to say that when she was arrested on January 21, 2020, the police
did not state what she was arrested for and when her family members queried on
her arrest they did not get clear answers.
She said the warders had informed them that she was last seen around Nhlangano
when updating the family.
On the other hand, when Nothando’s mother was called, she referred all
questions to her daughter whom she said was old enough to answer questions on
her behalf.
She narrated that she did not know her daughter’s whereabouts ever since she
escaped from prison, citing that only God would know and decide her fate.
Rearrested
Worth noting is that once the two suspects are found and rearrested, they will
have an additional charge of escaping from lawful custody.
Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer Inspector Nosipho Mnguni
preferred not to comment as she referred all questions to the Correctional
Services Department.
When contacted, His Majesty’s Correctional Services’ (HMCS) Senior
Superintendent Gugulethu Dlamini said as of yesterday, they were still on the
lookout for the duo.
She further urged the public to contact In Charge Operation Deputy Commissioner
General M. Dludlu on 7606 2521 or Officer In Charge ACC F. Mhlanga on 7909 2534
or 7608 1959 if they had any information about the duo.