Times Of Swaziland: CLAIMS ASPIRING MP WARDER KIDNAPPED, TAKEN TO SA

CLAIMS ASPIRING MP WARDER KIDNAPPED, TAKEN TO SA
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Sibusiso Zwane on 15/08/2023 08:49:00


MANZINI - A warder, who is an aspiring MP managed to escape from six men who
kidnapped and smuggled him to Durban, South Africa.
According to a source close to the matter, the incident took place just over a
week ago and the member of His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS),
Bonginkosi Dlamini, who is an aspiring Member of Parliament (MP) for Maphalaleni
Constituency (Nsingweni Chiefdom), was kidnapped by six armed men near
Siphofaneni, along Hhelehhele/Lavumisa Public Road.
The source said the member of the country’s State security organ was from Big
Bend and he got a lift, which dropped him near Siphofaneni, after 5pm. He said
while he was hitchhiking, in order to get to Manzini, a red Toyota Corolla
stopped and six men jumped out of the car. He said four of them were armed with
guns and there was nothing he could do as, beside the fact he was outnumbered,
the kidnappers had dangerous weapons. He said while armed men pointed at him
with their guns, the other two tied his hands behind his back and bundled him
into the boot of the car before speeding away.
Borderline
The source said it is believed that the men used the one of the informal
crossing points along the country’s borderline, in the Shiselweni Region, to
cross to the neighbouring South Africa. He said when they arrived in South
Africa; they locked him in a room, where he spent about three days. “While
locked in the house, he survived with water, which they left for him in a small
washing dish,” the source said. He said the kidnappers robbed the aspiring MPs
his belongings, which included an undisclosed amount of money. He said while
locked up, they demanded that he should give them money so they would let him
go. However, the source said he told them that he did not have money.
Thereafter, he said they demanded that he should call his family and tell them
to send money for his release. He said despite telling the men that his family
did not have money, they forced him to make the call.
After learning about the matter, the source said his family reported the matter
to law enforcers at the Manzini Police Station. At the house, the source said
the HMCS officer was guarded by four of the armed kidnappers day and night.
However, he said on the third day, the warder noticed that there were only two
voices outside. He said at night, while he was paying attention to their
movements and what they were saying, he heard that they were planning to come
inside and he hid behind the door.
Kicked
“When they opened the door, he kicked the one, who was in the front and
disarmed him of his gun and fired a shot to the floor (in front of the other
kidnapper) and managed to flee,” the source claimed. He said the aspiring MP
learnt that he was in Durban when he sought help from one of the complexes and
he eventually came back to Eswatini the following day. The aspiring MP, who was
reluctant to talk about the matter, said he could not link it to elections
because the kidnappers demanded money.  He said when he told them that he did
not have money; they insisted that they knew that he had it.
By the time of compiling this report yesterday, Deputy Chief Police Information
and Communications Officer Inspector Nosipho Mnguni said the matter could not be
found in their records. She highlighted that sometimes people reported without
recording a statement, which then made it difficult for them to trace it. On the
other hand, HMCS Public Relations Officer Senior Superintendent Gugulethu
Dlamini said the officer reported the matter to his superiors upon return to the
country and they advised him to report it to the police.