SECURITY FORCES ASSAULT GUARD OVER DC CAMPERS

MBABANE – A security guard stationed at the Mbabane District Commissioner’s (DC) Office was allegedly assaulted by members of the security forces for allowing campers inside the premises at night.

Campers are the members of the public who, at times, spend the night at the DC offices, hoping to be the first in the queue in the morning for various services which include getting a national identity document. According to Musa Sibandze, he was at his workplace with those who usually spend the night at the DC offices to access services in the morning. Sibandze claimed that after being questioned why he had allowed the campers inside the premises, he was made to do push-ups, pinched, punched and attacked with the back of a rifle by members of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) and His Majesty’s Correctional Services. This incident happened at the DC offices at around 8pm on Monday.

Giving a full narration of what happened, the security guard stated that he was seated when he saw the campers running, as if escaping from something or someone. He alleged that the members of the security forces came in and asked him why he allowed the campers inside the premises. “They also questioned me why one of the offices was not locked yet it was after working hours. They demanded the keys to the office, to which I said I did not have them as I had no clue where the keys were,” Sibandze alleged.
Thereafter, he claimed that the members of the security forces made him do push-ups on the concrete floor, while one officer pinched him at the back of his thighs. He claimed he was also punched on one of his ears.  “As a result, my hands are painful and there is an echoing sound in my ear from the punch,” said the security guard.

He narrated that after the alleged assault, he went to the Mbabane Police Station to report the matter. Sibandze alleged that an officer recorded his statement and wrote a letter addressed to a healthcare worker to assist him as he had been  assaulted. He told this reporter that he had also reported the incident to his employers at work. Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer Inspector Nosipho Mnguni said the police were trying to communicate with him, after they had been informed that the security guard was allowing people inside the offices. “We are dealing with the issue of COVID-19 and this is against the regulations,” said Mnguni when referring to the security guard’s alleged practice of allowing people to sleep at the offices.
She further alleged that there were reports to the effect that Sibandze charged people money for standing in queues on their behalf. Mnguni said this was also illegal, though she did not cite any relevant law. She said in any case, if the security guard claimed he was assaulted, he should formally report the matter to the Operations Department within the police service, where the matter could be ironed out. Meanwhile, UEDF Public Relations Officer Tengetile Khumalo said her office was not aware of such a report. “I can only respond and comment once such has been conveyed to the Public Relations Office,” she said.

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