I ACTED IN SELF-DEFENCE - JUDGE

MBABANE - The Industrial Court judge who is accused of having shot an ex-convict says he acted in self- defence.
In an interview yesterday, the judge said: “I acted in self-defence as I was being attacked.”

He was, however, quick to mention that this was an unfortunate incident as someone ended up being injured in the process.
The judge said for now, there was nothing much he could say save to state that he was acting in self-defence.
“There is nothing much I can say as the matter is now being handled by the police,” said the judge.

He, however, briefly narrated that when it all happened, the aggressor allegedly wanted to stab him with a sharp object.
The incident occurred on Saturday night outside the popular Kai-Kai Bar, situated on the outskirts of Manzini.

However, Sithembiso Mngometulu (27), who is currently hospitalised, claimed that the judge pounced and first assaulted him with kicks and fists until he fell. He alleged that after he was shot by the judge, most people left the scene and they claimed that they were scared to take him to hospital for medical attention.

The allegations that the judge was accosted have been corroborated by two of those who were in the company of the judge when the incident occurred.  
Mandla Mngadi said they arrived at Kai-Kai on Saturday between 7-8pm.

Relaxing

He said while they were still relaxing and having some drinks,  the judge asked one of the younger men he was travelling with, a certain Kenny, to go and buy drinks at the bottle store. 

He said when the young man arrived at the bottle store, it was just before closing time and Kenny allegedly had an altercation with one of the people inside the bottle store.

According to Mngadi, he did not personally witness where or how it started, but was called by the judge who asked why they we were not assisting or intervening because someone was picking a fight with Kenny.

“When we got towards the bottle store, we found Kenny in an altercation with a man who had stitches on his head,” he narrated.
He said they tried to establish what the bone of contention was and Kenny said the other man was the aggressor, who was later joined by a friend and when he tried to apologise, they both started hitting him.

“We tried to stop the fight and were successful as it was diffused. The judge, as the eldest among us, then stayed behind and tried to reason with the man who had allegedly assaulted Kenny,” Mngadi claimed.

However, one of the men who was a regular at the bar then spilled the drink of the alleged aggressor while he was still chatting with the judge.
To broker peace between the parties, the judge reportedly offered to replace the spilled beverage and then went and bought him drinks inside Kai-Kai Bar as the bottle store was closed.

The judge reportedly rejoined his friends and told them that the matter had been resolved.
“We continued to hang out for a long time. While we were still relaxing, another man approached and came straight at the judge. However, I had moved from the group as I was on the phone, but I could see everything that was happening,” said Mngadi.

The man Mngadi was relating to is believed to be Mngometulu, who ended up being shot.
“When he got to the group, the first person he was closest to was the judge and Kenny. It is not clear what they said, but they were gesticulating when talking to each other,” he further alleged.

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