COUNCIL ROPES IN OSSU FOR MANGWANENI DEMOLITION

MBABANE – The Municipal Council of Mbabane is unwavering on its stance  to demolish the alleged illegal structure constructed by businessman Bongani Delisa Dlamini.

Operation Support Services Unit (OSSU) officers, from the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS),are said to have been roped in. This will not be the first time that OSSU assists the council as in 2020, a skirmish that lasted for about three hours between police and angry Mangwaneni residents saw one of the residents being hit by a rubber bullet in the head, allegedly by the police. The injured resident was identified as Sanele Sukati and as a result he was admitted to the Mbabane Government Hospital where the bullet was removed.

Mob

This comes after an attempt to serve a final demolition order to Dlamini by the council on Friday morning failed as Top Two security officers who were acting on the council’s behalf were attacked by a mob while on the job. Their vehicle was also set alight. Two people have been arrested in connection with the incident, Felix Mabuza (33) and Xolani Pelito Khayane (27). They have been charged with possession of an illegal firearm and 10 live rounds of ammunition. The due appeared before Magistrate Xolile Nxumalo. Public Information Officer at the Mbabane Municipal Council Lucky Tsabedze said they would be demolishing the structure as per the notice that was served to Dlamini. He said the demolition would be effected soon.

Meanwhile, one of the officers at the council stated that he reported the businessman after he pointed a gun at him during the demolitions of the same structure in 2020.  The officer stated that his hope was that the police would repossess the businessman’s firearm but to date nothing had been done about it. In an interview with the businessman on what his position was regarding the council’s position to carry out the demolition, he said he had no comment on the matter.
Chief Police Information and Communications Officer47 Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed that a case was opened by the officer against the businessman. Vilakati said on the recent incident involving Top Two Security officers, they were still conducting investigations. When questioned on the issue of roping in OSSU, Vilakati said for now she was not sure on whether they would be engaged and would have to find out about it.

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