Times Of Swaziland: COUNCIL ROPES IN OSSU FOR MANGWANENI DEMOLITION

COUNCIL ROPES IN OSSU FOR MANGWANENI DEMOLITION
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BY SITHEMBILE HLATSHWAYO on 04/01/2022 08:50:00


MBABANE – The Municipal Council of Mbabane is unwavering on its stance  to
demolish the alleged illegal structure constructed by businessman Bongani Delisa
Dlamini.
Operation Support Services Unit (OSSU) officers, from the Royal Eswatini Police
Service (REPS),are said to have been roped in. This will not be the first time
that OSSU assists the council as in 2020, a skirmish that lasted for about three
hours between police and angry Mangwaneni residents saw one of the residents
being hit by a rubber bullet in the head, allegedly by the police. The injured
resident was identified as Sanele Sukati and as a result he was admitted to the
Mbabane Government Hospital where the bullet was removed.
Mob
This comes after an attempt to serve a final demolition order to Dlamini by the
council on Friday morning failed as Top Two security officers who were acting on
the council’s behalf were attacked by a mob while on the job. Their vehicle
was also set alight. Two people have been arrested in connection with the
incident, Felix Mabuza (33) and Xolani Pelito Khayane (27). They have been
charged with possession of an illegal firearm and 10 live rounds of ammunition.
The due appeared before Magistrate Xolile Nxumalo. Public Information Officer at
the Mbabane Municipal Council Lucky Tsabedze said they would be demolishing the
structure as per the notice that was served to Dlamini. He said the demolition
would be effected soon.
Meanwhile, one of the officers at the council stated that he reported the
businessman after he pointed a gun at him during the demolitions of the same
structure in 2020.  The officer stated that his hope was that the police would
repossess the businessman’s firearm but to date nothing had been done about
it. In an interview with the businessman on what his position was regarding the
council’s position to carry out the demolition, he said he had no comment on
the matter.
Chief Police Information and Communications Officer47 Superintendent Phindile
Vilakati confirmed that a case was opened by the officer against the
businessman. Vilakati said on the recent incident involving Top Two Security
officers, they were still conducting investigations. When questioned on the
issue of roping in OSSU, Vilakati said for now she was not sure on whether they
would be engaged and would have to find out about it.