Times Of Swaziland: COP HIT, KILLED BY CAR: FAMILY SPEAKS, DRIVER FACES ‘DD’

COP HIT, KILLED BY CAR: FAMILY SPEAKS, DRIVER FACES ‘DD’
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Sithembile Hlatshwayo and Phiwase Phungwayo on 17/08/2023 11:25:00


MBABANE – “The death of my brother was an act of God as the car followed him
despite him trying to escape.”
The above sentiments were shared by Sifiso Zwane, who is the younger brother of
the traffic police officer, who was killed while on his line of duty on Tuesday
afternoon. The police officer, Sicelo Request Zwane, who was based in Bhunya,
was with a colleague conducting a roadblock near Mhlabubovu Traffic Circle,
along the Malkerns-Mhlabubovu Public Road, in the Manzini Region.
Speed
According to Sifiso, information they received from the police officer who was
with Sicelo was that he got into the road with the intention to stop the car,
which was moving at a very high speed. He said upon realising that the driver of
the vehicle had no intentions to stop, he tried to escape to a nearby bush where
the vehicle followed him and ran him over. Sifiso said his brother died on the
spot after sustaining head injuries. Meanwhile, the driver of the vehicle
yesterday appeared at the Manzini Magistrates Court, where he is facing a
charges of culpable homicide and that of contravening the Road Traffic Act 6 of
2007. Sicelo Vincent Mabuza (38) of Ntondozi appeared before Principal
Magistrate David Khumalo yesterday.
According to the charge sheet, in count one, the accused, being the driver of a
white VW Polo sedan registered KSD 930 AL, did wrongfully and unlawfully drive
the said vehicle and lost control, encroached to the opposite lane and knocked
down a police officer, Sicelo Request Zwane (43) of Bhunya Police Station, who
was in full uniform. In count two, the accused was charged for contravening the
Road Traffic Act in that upon or about August 15, he unlawfully drove the
aforementioned vehicle along the said public road while allegedly under the
influence of intoxicating liquor. The particulars of his state were that he was
staggering, with a strong smell of liquor, was uncooperative and had reddish
eyes. It was also revealed that he drove away from the scene of accident. The
accused elected to represent himself when his rights to legal representation
were explained to him. He was remanded in custody until August 23.