NERCHA MANAGER FOUND MURDERED IN FLAT

NHLANGANO - A manager at the National Emergency Response Council on HIV and AIDS (NERCHA) was found murdered in her flat.

Sharon Neves was NERCHA’s Shiselweni Regional Coordinator. According to the police, Neves was found dead in her flat at Nkhanini Township/Phola in Nhlangano during the wee hours of yesterday. Her body was found sprawled inside the living room. Shiselweni Regional Crime Branch Officer (RCBO) Superintendant Mbazo Dlamini said police received the report about the incident and rushed to the scene where they found Neves dead, lying in a pool of blood. Dlamini said the police arrived at the scene at around 6am and started with the investigations right away. He said their preliminary findings suggested that Neves was assaulted with a heavy metal object all over her body.

Injuries

He said there were visible injuries on various parts of her body. On both her cheeks, she had bite marks. Dlamini said Neves was wearing a nightdress when the police found her lying in a pool of blood. At the time this publication arrived at the scene, police were still busy with their investigations. During that time, more police officers arrived at the scene, including those from the Operational Support Services Unit (OSSU), who came with a sniffer dog which was moved around the premises. Also present at the scene was Neves’s boyfriend, identified as Zwelibandzi Simelane. Police officers would often call him closer to where they were conducting the investigations. Neves’s car, that was reportedly driven by Simelane the night before her death, was also inspected by the police. More of Neves’s relatives also arrived at around 10am and were joined by other mourners. Among the mourners who came to support the Neves family was Apostle Jethro Malindzisa of the High Praise International.

Meeting

When the relatives arrived, they had a brief meeting with the police officers. The police officers then continued with their investigations while the relatives started cleaning the house by removing the bloodstains. Journalists were denied entry into the house. Police continued with their investigations, which included moving the sniffer dog around the premises until around after 11am when they left together with Simelane, who was seen carrying a black refuse bag with some items inside. According to sources close to the police, Simelane left with the cops to the police station where further statements were to be recorded. Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer Inspector Nosipho Mnguni confirmed that the police left the scene with Simelane. Mnguni said the reason Simelane was taken to the police station was so that he could assist them with further information. It should be noted that, he has not been declared as a suspect in the matter and he was later released after assisting the police with further information.

Some sources close to the family said Neves’s phone was not found at the scene and it was not available on the network when they tried calling it. Some of NERCHA’s staff members also came at around noon to support the family. Information gathered from those who had seen Neves and her boyfriend the previous day was that the couple was at a bar at Nhlangano Prison and left late in the night. It was established that Neves was the first to leave the establishment in a company vehicle while her boyfriend remained behind for a while. He is said to have later left the establishment as well, driving Neves’s personal car. It was gathered that upon arrival at Neves’s flat, Simelane found her lying in a pool of blood and he was the one who called the police to the scene. This was also confirmed by some of the law enforcers who were on the ground.

Comment

Efforts to get a comment from the family members who were present at the scene were unsuccessful as they were in a very devastating state. One of the relatives who was then called by this publication later at around 4:35pm, declined to comment but requested the media to give the family time to grieve their loss. The family member, whose name could not be confirmed, said they were still going to meet with elders of the family over the matter. The family member emphasised that may the family be given space and time to grieve. NERCHA’s Communications Officer Siphesihle Nkwanyana said they had been informed by Neves’s family about her demise. She said so far they did not have much to say except passing their condolences to her family and friends.

Nkwanyana said after receiving the sad news, as an organisation, they were very shattered and shocked because almost everyone in the organisation knew Neves. She said Neves was a friend to everyone, even to those from lower levels. The communications officer said when they received the news they observed a moment of silence in her respect. She said Neves had served the organisation for over 15 years and served with much dedication and love. She described Neves as a generous person, something that was proven by that she normally made huge donations to the needy. She said Neves loved serving the communities even in the rural areas as their organisation was working with people from all walks of life.

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