Times Of Swaziland: SOBANTU, WIFE TIED, COVERED WITH BLANKET IN ROBBERY

SOBANTU, WIFE TIED, COVERED WITH BLANKET IN ROBBERY
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Sibusiso Shange on 24/09/2024 08:11:00


NKHABA - Former Army Commander Sobantu Dlamini has been robbed of his valuable
items, while tied and covered with a blanket at his homestead.
The stolen items include money in cash amounting to over E30 000 and items
valued at E92 000. The robbers also made away with six cellphones, laptops and
frozen chickens, among other items. Dlamini, who confirmed having been attacked
and robbed by four men, said the thugs also stole his Cognac and spirits on
display as he no longer drinks anything alcoholic.
Information gathered was to the effect that Dlamini was attacked by four men who
were armed with a pickaxe, bush knives and knives. This happened soon after
Dlamini and his wife had got into bed on Saturday.In an interview at his
homestead at Nkhaba, Dlamini said he heard a loud bang at the door, before three
of the robbers entered his bedroom. According to the former army commander,
three of the men went straight to him and his wife and ordered them to lie down
if they did not want to die.
Cables
He said the trio tied them with cables and further covered them with a blanket
while warning them against disturbing them in their mission. Worth noting is
that tying and covering people with blankets has been a trend in robberies
committed around Mbabane and surrounding areas. One of the robbers, who was also
carrying a bush knife, remained outside to guard against any person who might
disturb his accomplices. According to Dlamini, the incident happened at around
10pm on Saturday.
“I had just got into bed with my wife after watching football when I heard a
bang at the door. Three men entered the bedroom and rushed to the bed, while
instructing us to lie down if we did not want to die. They then tied us with a
cable and covered us with a blanket, while instructing us not to disturb them in
their mission,” Dlamini said. He said the trio then had a brief discussion
wherein they agreed to untie his wife so that she could show them whatever they
wanted in the house. The former army commander stated that the trio was specific
that they wanted money.
Dlamini said two men took his wife to another house, where they forced her to
show them money while one kept guard over him under the blanket. He said his
wife had no choice, but to show them money kept in a safe. According to Dlamini,
the money included E16 000, which was prepared by his deceased brother’s son
for kukhonta and the construction of a shack at the new site. He said there was
also money amounting to E12 000, which was prepared for his employees’
salaries. Dlamini said the money was from his wife’s small business. He said
after taking the money, the duo proceeded to the fridge, where they took 16
frozen chickens before stealing the gadgets.
Ascent
“They claimed to have been sent by a certain woman to rob me of my items. They
tried to speak the Zulu language, but I could tell that their ascent was not
Zulu. I noticed that the imitation of the language was just meant to confuse
us,” he said. He said the men left immediately, leaving him under the blanket
with the cable tied around his hands and ankles. He said he later realised that
the men broke into the house, starting from the kitchen using a pickaxe. He said
he was later informed that a motor vehicle was spotted around his homestead
prior to the incident. Dlamini said he suspected that the thugs parked the motor
vehicle somewhere before they gained entry into his fenced homestead.  Dlamini
said the information gave him the impression that the occupants of the car were
looking for his homestead with intent to attack him. He said the manner in which
he was attacked gave him the impression that the thugs worked with someone who
knew him from the community.
He said this was informed by the fact that his own pickaxe was used to break
into the house. “How would someone who does not know anything about my
homestead know where I keep my tools, in particular the pickaxe, which was used
during the commission of the offence?” wondered Dlamini. He said the robbers
might have received information from someone who knew that there was money meant
for kukhonta in the house.
Information
“The robbers asked me about a brand new VW sedan, which gave me the impression
that someone who knew me gave them information about me,” he said. He added
that the thugs stole his plough from his other homestead recently. He registered
his hope that the perpetrators would soon be brought to book. Meanwhile, Chief
Police Information and Communication Officer Senior Superintendent Phindile
Vilakati confirmed a report of a robbery, where money in cash amounting to over
E30 000 and items valued at E92 000 were stolen at Nkhaba. Vilakati said
investigations were ongoing.