Times Of Swaziland: 8 KONTSHINGILA MEN CHARGED  WITH SEDITION

8 KONTSHINGILA MEN CHARGED  WITH SEDITION
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BY Eugene Dube on 03/10/2013 03:11:00


NHLANGANO – About 8 people have been charged with sedition following the past
weekend’s protest at Kontshingila against acting Chief, Gelane Simelane.
The eight men have been slapped with two counts each.
All the suspects are from KaGodloza Umphakatsi.
The men appeared before Nhlangano Magistrate Mandla Mkhaliphi yesterday.
During the case, Mandla Dlamini appeared for the crown.
The men arrived in court at around 11am. Magistrate Mandla Mkhaliphi remanded
them back to custody till next Wednesday where they will have to appear before
the High Court.
The suspects, according to the charge sheet are said to have incited violence
against the lawful authority of Kontshingila Royal Kraal by engaging in unlawful
protests and demonstration.
In the second count, they are alleged to have moved from KaGodloza Chiefdom to
KaGwegwe Cheifdom without a license to hold public procession. They face three
years in jail without a fine each if found guilty. The arrests come after
residents first gave the acting chief a seven-days ultimatum to vacate the area
as the chieftaincy dispute came to the fore.
Zwane has been acting chief for an estimated 27 years.
On Saturday, the residents clashed with the police, injuring one officer, as
they proceeded in the direction of the acting chief’s umphakatsi.