TV MAN, 3 OTHERS ARRESTED FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER

MBABANE – Eswatini TV employee Phephisa Zwane has been arrested and charged with two counts of attempted murder.

Zwane (45) is alleged to have attempted to kill Sibahle Matsebula, who he was accusing of having stolen his television set and other items.  He is reported to have committed the offence with Mduduzi Lukhele, Jabulani Mamba and Khulekani Mabuza. They are alleged to have tied Matsebula with a rope around the neck and further dragged him with car. In the second count, they are alleged to have attempted to kill   Melusi Shongwe by also tying him with a rope around the neck and further dragging him with a car.

Torture

The quartet is alleged to have committed the offence at Mashobeni in the Shiselweni Region on February 21, 2020. His co-accused are facing further charges of attempted murder in that they attempted to kill Lwazi Hlophe by drowning, kicking and beating him with a sjambok all over the body. Also facing the same charge is, Satiso Mabuza of the same area who is also accused of having participated in some of the offences faced by Zwane and his co-accused. They made their first appearance at the Nhlangano Magistrates court on Saturday and they were advised to move a bail application at the High Court in the event they so desired.

So severe were the injuries sustained by Matsebula during the torture that he had to be rushed to hospital to receive medical attention. As proof of the severity of the injuries, Matsebula’s body is now covered in scars especially on the neck. During the assault, Matsebula was allegedly made to admit knowledge of the stolen items under coercion.

Acquaintance

Narrating about the torment, Matsebula alleged that Zwane first tormented his nephew, who happened to mention his name during the process as he was also trying to save his skin.
Matsebula alleged that Zwane and his friends then drove off heading towards a bottle store where liquor was purchased. He said from the bottle store, Zwane and his group then checked upon their victim (nephew) inside the boot and when opening it, he was able to flee. According to Matsebula, after they were outsmarted by their victim, they changed plans and drove straight to his homestead where they used his close acquaintance to get him out of the house.

Torture

In a previous interview with Zwane, he acknowledged that he knew Matsebula and that he (Matsebula) and his friends had allegedly stolen items in his house which included an LED television set, home theatre system and a cellphone. He first said he was not involved in the torture and assault of Matsebula. However, he later confessed that he, together with friends, used a cable to tie their victims to force them to talk as they were allegedly reluctant to do so. “All I wanted was my stolen items,” he said.

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