Times Of Swaziland: CHAOS AFTER 2 MEN SHOT DEAD AT FUNERAL

CHAOS AFTER 2 MEN SHOT DEAD AT FUNERAL
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BY THOKOZANI MAMBA on 19/07/2021 08:49:00


LOMAHASHA – Chaos erupted in this small town as the youth and other members of
the community blocked roads and burnt tyres while demanding justice after the
murder of two young men from the area, allegedly by a police officer.
The men were allegedly shot dead by the police officer on Saturday during a
funeral. The police officer, stationed at the Lomahasha Police Station,
allegedly gunned down the duo at the late Peter’s Transport owner Peter
Mashaba’s home situated at Lomahasha. The cop, who is popularly known as
Twenty Dlamini, is alleged to have shot both men while they were seated by a
fire which was outside the homestead’s gate during the night of the funeral.
Rifle
It was alleged that the police officer used a service rifle, R4, to shoot the
duo. The deceased were identified as Sifiso ‘Mpostoli’ Masilela (26) and
Mxolisi ‘Sigubhu’ Nyoni (28), who both hailed from Lomahasha. It was also
established that the feud started at a bar around the area, where the police
officer and the duo were enjoying alcoholic drinks. The alleged bone of
contention which led to the death of the two was the questioning of the police
officer by the duo, asking him what prompted him to shoot a young man from the
area during the recent protests that were marred by looting, vandalising and
burning of some business establishments. “The police officer is believed to
have shot a young man who is now confined to a wheelchair during the recent
political unrest. The duo asked him how he felt to have committed such an act
and destroy a young man’s future. This is said to have infuriated the police
officer and a brawl ensued, resulting in the two running away to another bar,”
claimed a source.
The source alleged, “While at that other bar, they got wind that the police
officer was in pursuit of them and they left and went to the Mashaba homestead
and started a fire outside the gate. The police officer was informed that they
were at the Mashaba homestead and he got there, drew his service rifle and shot
them. He fired one shot at each of the men. People came and took the gun from
him and he ran away.” According Jacob Mashaba, a senior family member and
brother to the late Peter, the incident took place at around midnight. Jacob
said he was in his car when he heard a knock on the window from a family member
informing him that a police officer had allegedly shot two young men at the
homestead’s gate.
Preparations
“We were making preparations to bury our young brother Joshua. There was no
vigil as per the ban on such events. It was around midnight when I was informed
that a police officer had gunned down two men at the gate. I tried to enquire on
what prompted the police officer to do this but I was told it was a long story
that started while they were enjoying drinks at a bar,” he alleged. Another
family member also echoed Jacob’s sentiments, stating that she was asleep when
the incident took place. “My children woke me up to the sad news while I was
taking a nap. According to someone who witnessed the incident, the argument was
that the police officer shot one of their friends and the two young men asked
him why he did that.