Times Of Swaziland: 6-MEMBER HMCS TEAM TO PROBE MPS ASSAULT IN CELL

6-MEMBER HMCS TEAM TO PROBE MPS ASSAULT IN CELL
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Times Reporters on 26/09/2022 09:06:00


MBABANE - Six officers have been appointed to lead an inquiry which seeks to
establish what happened in the alleged assault of prisoners last Thursday
morning.
The inquiry, which started on Saturday, will seek to establish information from
the about nine inmates, who include the two incarcerated Members of Parliament
(MPs), Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube. This publication on Friday
reported that the two MPs, together with seven other inmates, were attacked by
warders who had their faces covered in balaclavas. Upon entry, it was claimed
that the officers started assaulting the two legislators with open hand claps,
fists, kicked them and also used spray guns. As this was happening, the sources
alleged that the Correctional officers were using expletives and also claiming
that it was ‘an eye for an eye’.
Intervene
Seeing this, it was said the seven inmates occupying the same cell with the MPs
tried to intervene and questioned the violence. However, the intervention of the
inmates supposedly drew the ire of the His Majesty’s Correctional Services
(HMCS) personnel, as they supposedly started assaulting them as well. During the
skirmish, it was claimed the law enforcers continued to use all sorts of
missiles and assaulted all the inmates in the cell. The sources claimed that MP
Dube was also pressed with a bed and against the wall such that he sustained an
injury to his eye. On the other hand, it was purported that MP Mabuza was
assaulted all over the body in such a way that he bled profusely through his
nose. The assault was said to have lasted for 45 minutes.
According to sources, during the skirmish, two HMCS officers, who were part of
the search party, suffered lacerations and were injured in various body parts.
It has since been gathered that the enquiry shall also determine the charges to
be levelled against those found to have carried themselves against the
Correctional Services Act.
Confirmed
HMCS Public Relations Officer (PRO) Senior Superintendent Gugulethu Dlamini
confirmed that an inquiry was instituted to investigate what actually happened
on this day. Dlamini was sought for comment to establish what had been uncovered
at Matsapha Correctional Facility and if the officers responsible would be taken
to task. She said at the moment, details from all relevant parties were being
sought, in order to determine what transpired and use the law to deal with it.
When asked if the warders had a mission to assault the inmates, inclusive of the
legislators, as alleged or were in search of contraband, Dlamini said: “In
most instances, Correctional officers engaged in random searches to ensure the
safety of inmates and officers alike.”
Dlamini further explained that there were instances when there were extensive
searches. In these instances, she said, the administration instituted them based
on information they may have. When asked if there were officers who were injured
on Thursday, she responded to the affirmative. However, she said the inquiry
would assist in establishing and shedding light on any questions which may arise
from the allegations purporting that inmates were assaulted. Dlamini was further
asked how transparent would the investigations be as there was reasonable
apprehension of bias in that Correctional officers were behind the alleged
assault, she said the institution was professional and in previous instances had
even taken officers to task for being engaged in behaviour and or acts contrary
to the mandate of the HMCS.
Contravened
“Some officers who have contravened the Corrections Services Act have been
investigated and charged and the same applies with inmates, without taking
sides,” Dlamini said. Meanwhile, it is worth noting that there was still an
ongoing inquiry into the issue of two cellphones which were found in the
possession of the incarcerated Hosea Constituency legislator, Mabuza.This
resulted in the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) directing MP Mabuza, to furnish
it with detailed information and documents pertaining to the eight officers from
HMCS who had accounts at Baceth Investments.
He was also ordered to depose to an affidavit detailing among other things how
the officers got to have accounts in his business. The commission is reportedly
investigating whether there was any element of corruption when the officers
opened the accounts. MP Mabuza is the owner of Baceth Hardware Stores, which has
branches across all regions of the country. Baceth Investments is one of the
hardware stores which allows customers to open accounts with them for purposes
of purchasing building material.  The eight officers are now subject to the
investigation that has been instituted by the ACC and the police pertaining to
the smuggling of two cellphones, whose were found in Mabuza’s possession. The
officers whose accounts details are now subject to investigation are Thokozani
Mhlanga, Lucky Dludlu, Lasco Leandry, Johannes Tsabedze, Tom Bongwe, Mangaliso
Dlamini, Neliswa Dlamini and Bheki Magagula.
Documents
The ACC served the MP with the document directing him to furnish it with the
information and documents at the Matsapha Maximum Prison and in the
correspondence, the commission requested MP Mabuza to furnish it with certified
copies of information detailing opening documents of the customers and/or loan
issuance books of the officers, statements of accounts from the date they were
opened to the current date and/or loan issuance books and the client’s know
your customer (KYC) documents.  “Your institution will be required to provide
us with affidavits outlining the above information that would be discussed
between our investigators and your offices in respect of this investigation,”
reads part of the document.
The three-page letter to the MP was signed by the Commissioner of the ACC,
Daniel Dlamini. Mabuza was further informed that the request for the information
and documents was made in terms of Section 11 and 12 of the Prevention of
Corruption Act 3 of 2006. Section 11 of the Act provides that: “In performance
of the function of the commission to conduct an inquiry or investigation into
alleged suspected offences; can direct an executive officer or any public or
private body to furnish within such time as specified by the commissioner, any
document or a certified true copy of any document which is in possession or
under the control of that person and which the commissioner considers necessary
for the conduct of investigations into alleged suspected offence.”