Times Of Swaziland: KILLED OK WORKER: I CANNOT RECALL WHAT HAPPENED - SUSPECT

KILLED OK WORKER: I CANNOT RECALL WHAT HAPPENED - SUSPECT
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Siboniso Nkambule on 08/04/2024 08:59:00


MBABANE - “I cannot recall what happened on that day and I am remorseful for
my actions.”
This was said by the man who is accused of killing the mother of his child by
stabbing her several times all over the body at Sitibeni in Mbabane. Saneliso
Doctor Simelane made his first court appearance at the Mbabane Magistrates Court
on Friday, where he made an hour-and-a-half-long confession before Magistrate
Sifiso Vilakati. Simelane (33) of Madulini stands accused of the murder of
Gabsile Mayaba, who was employed by OK Foods in Mbabane. During his confession,
Simelane narrated to the court events leading to the killing of Mayaba. He
claimed that the deceased was his girlfriend and she had not ended their
relationship. Simelane said he was agitated by endless phone calls received by
Mayaba, which were from her purported husband-to-be. He narrated that during the
incident, he blacked out and did not remember how he eventually stabbed Mayaba
several times.
Murder
Simelane is facing a murder charge in that he allegedly killed Mayaba by
stabbing her several times in the neck, head and chest with an Okapi knife. The
incident happened last Wednesday at Sitibeni in Mbabane. Mayaba was employed at
OK Foods situated at The Bridge near Checkers in Mbabane. She was the mother of
Simelane’s child, who is eight years old. Mayaba (35) was certified dead upon
arrival at Mbabane Government Hospital. Simelane was remanded in custody until
this Friday. During his confession, which he said he was doing voluntarily, he
promised to speak the truth.
According to Simelane, on the fateful day, he received a call from Mayaba, who
requested money for his daughter’s lunchbox. Simelane confessed that they
agreed to meet after work, where he boarded a kombi from the Mbabane Bus Rank
and met Mayaba by the OK Foods store. He stated that at the store, he met Mayaba
and gave her E450 to buy the child’s lunchbox items. Simelane narrated that
Mayaba decided that she would no longer buy the items on the day in question but
on the following day. According to Simelane, they boarded a kombi and alighted
at the junction leading to Sitibeni.
Confess
He went on to confess that along the way to the junction, Mayaba’s cellphone
allegedly rang non-stop. He confessed that he questioned Mayaba on why she was
not picking up her phone, but she responded by saying, they were not in a
relationship and she was not her husband. Simelane narrated to the court that
Mayaba was allegedly his girlfriend and they were still in love. He explained
that the cellphone continued to ring, which Mayaba eventually answered and
alerted the caller that she was going home to drop off her lunchbox, and they
would see each other thereafter. Simelane stated that after that call, he could
not recall what happened as he blacked out and did not remember how he stabbed
Mayaba.
Furthermore, he confessed that he did not remember how many times he stabbed the
mother of his child. He mentioned that he only learned about Mayaba’s
purported marriage on Friday and further saw the husband-to-be. Simelane shared
that he was pained by the fact that his child would see him as her mother’s
killer, something which he did not know how it happened.
He revealed that he shared the incident events with one of his friends, who
advised him against running away from the crime. Simelane confessed that his
friend advised him to go to work and the police would find him there.