14 DIE OVER CHRISTMAS WEEKEND

MANZINI – There was nothing merry over the Christmas weekend for 14 families, as their loved ones died.

The season to be jolly ended tragically for some individuals as their lives ended under tragic circumstances inclusive of drowning, electrocution, fire, motor vehicle accidents and murder. These deaths occurred in the four regions of the country from December 24 – December 26, 2021, and were recorded by the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS). In their reports, the police said there were five murders, three drowning incidents, three car accidents, two fire incidents and one electrocution incident. These reports reflected that the number of deaths reported by the police this year were similar to last year’s. This is because over the long weekend, 14 people died in different circumstances which included stabbings, drownings and motor vehicle accidents.

Stabbed

On Thursday (December 23, 2021), a 25-year-old male of Mvutjini was stabbed with a sharp object while at Yemfo Bar. Subsequent to this, at about 11pm, Mbabane police arrested and charged a male aged 27 of Mangwaneni. In the wee hours leading to Christmas Day, at about 4:45am, a 35-year-old man of Ludzeludze was supposedly assaulted all over the body and eventually succumbed to the injuries while at Mbhuleni. Following the murder, the Matsapha Police arrested and charged four suspects aged 23, 28 and 31, of Mbhuleni and Eteni areas for the offence.

On the eve of Christmas Day, a 37-year-old man of Mampempeni was assaulted with sticks all over the body allegedly by three unknown assailants. This was reported to have happened at about 6:45pm and Siteki police are still investigating the murder. Just 15 minutes before Christmas Day, a 25-year-old male of Nsingweni was said to have been attacked by a mob and stabbed all over the body with a sharp object while at Moyamunye Bar (New Village). The victim was rushed to the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital where he was certified dead on arrival and Matsapha police are still investigating the murder.

On Christmas Day, at about 6pm, a 43-year-old man of Eteni was stabbed once with a sharp object by an unknown assailant while at Mpembekati (Manzini). He was rushed to RFM Hospital where he was certified dead on arrival and Manzini police are investigating the murder. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati said police were appealing to members of the public to assist with information that would lead to the apprehension of the suspect. She said any person with information that would lead to the arrest of the suspect may contact the Manzini police or dial the police emergency toll-free line: 999 / 9999.

On the other hand, it was reported that on Christmas Day at about 5pm, a Chevrolet sedan driven by an 18-year-old man of KaKhoza (Sicelwini), reversed onto a 58-year-old woman. This accident was said to have occurred within a private residential property. When the accident happened, it was said the elderly woman was seated and she sustained serious injuries. Subsequent to the impact, the elderly woman was rushed to RFM Hospital where she was certified dead. In light of the accident, the teenage driver was charged with culpable homicide and is due to appear at the Manzini Magistrates Court today. Also, on Christmas Day at about 8:55pm, a Toyota Quantum driven by a 37-year-old man of Mbabane, knocked down a 23-year-old pedestrian who was crossing the road.

The accident happened along the Ngogola – Lonhlupheko MR 3 Public Road, near Tio Zee. The pedestrian was reported to have sustained serious injuries and was rushed to Good Shepherd Catholic Hospital (GSCH)  where he was certified dead. Following the accident, the driver was charged with culpable homicide and will appear at the Siteki Magistrates Court today.

Meanwhile, also on Christmas Day, it was said at Mlindazwe, along Mlindazwe-Buka Public Road, a 32-year-old woman was knocked down by a vehicle driven by an unknown motorist. The accident reportedly happened at 9:40pm. The motorist reportedly failed to stop after the accident. The pedestrian was said to have sustained serious head injuries and was rushed to Mbabane Government Hospital, where she was certified dead on arrival. Subsequent to the hit-and-run accident, police are appealing to members of the public to assist with information that would lead to the apprehension of this motorist. Vilakati said the vehicle was suspected to have been damaged on the front part. She pleaded with members of the public who may have information which would lead to the arrest of the suspect to contact Lobamba police or dial the police toll-free line: 999 / 9999.

Drowned

Furthermore, at 10am on Christmas Day, police scuba divers retrieved the body of a 34-year-old male. His mother, on December 20, 2021, reported to the Mankayane Police Station that the deceased had supposedly drowned while attempting to cross the Mkhondvo River. The retrieved body was certified dead at the Hlatikhulu Government Hospital. Also, at 10am on Christmas Day, a male aged 27 of Mantabeni was reported to have drowned while praying at Nsansa River, Mvutjini. It was said police officers and community members retrieved the deceased’s body, which was later certified dead at Mbabane Government Hospital. Meanwhile, on Boxing Day at about 5:30pm, a 33-year-old male from Siteki drowned while crossing the Ngwempisana River in Mankayane.

Suffocation

On Boxing Day, the police also reported that there were three fatalities due to fire. One of the incidents happened at Hluthi, where it was reported that at about 7am, two lives were lost due to a fire. A 40-year-old woman and a 25 year-old male of Mziki died due to suffocation after the house they were sleeping in caught fire. On the second incident, a 28-year- old man was burnt to death when a house he was sleeping in caught fire while at Emseleni (Malkerns).

A sudden death through electrocution purportedly happened at 1pm on Boxing Day in Nhlangano. It was reported that an 8-year-old girl of Jabulani was electrocuted. She was rushed to the Nhlangano Health Centre, where she was certified dead upon arrival. On the other hand, at 10:30am on Boxing Day, Siphofaneni police arrested and charged a 23-year-old male of Lukhetseni in connection with the murder of a 27-year-old man of the same area who was stabbed to death on December 23, 2021, at 10pm.   The deceased was said to have been stabbed once in the chest with a sharp object while at Siphofaneni. The arrested suspect will appear at Siphofaneni Magistrates Court today.

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