SHARON’S MURDER: INVESTIGATIONS REVEAL GORY DETAILS

MBABANE – Police investigations have reportedly revealed that, Zwelibanzi Simelane, who allegedly killed her lover, Nhlangano NERCHA Manager Sharon Neves, controlled her in every aspect of her life and assaulted her often.

This was disclosed by the investigator of the case, Detective Constable Ndlangamandla, in his opposing affidavit. Simelane has filed an urgent bail application where he denies to have committed the offence. His bail application is being met with resistance by the Crown. In his opposing papers, Ndlangamandla informed the court that investigations revealed that Simelane sometimes took Neves’s car keys and left her stranded. “Our investigations further revealed that on the night of the untimely death, the deceased wanted to sleep at her friend’s place as she did not feel safe being around Simelane,” submitted the investigator. He also narrated to the court that the deceased was found face down on the floor with blood oozing from the body. 

Bruises

“In fact, blood was everywhere in the house. There was blood on the floor and near the fridge.  The deceased’s face had bruises and her head was swollen at the back.  Her neck also had bruises and discoloration,” submitted the investigator. The police officer submitted that the manner in which the offence happened induced a sense of shock and outrage not only in the community of Nhlangano but in the country as a whole. Ndlangamandla contended that Simelane’s safety might be jeopardised if released on bail. The investigator further highlighted to the court that Simelane pretended to be shocked like the rest of the family members who were called to the scene of crime.  According to the investigator, Simelane reported to the police that he found Neves dead in her house. “His demeanour was amazing as he was very calm the entire time as we worked at the scene,” submitted the investigator.

Ndlangamandla submitted that Neves’s death caused a media frenzy and the social networks were abuzz with the news that Simelane was the prime suspect and even arrested for same.  The police officer said many women organisations were up in arms over the brutal killing of one of their own in such a cold fashion and at the time when they were fighting to end gender-based violence. “If Simelane is released on bail, it would certainly cause public disorder and even endanger the safety and well-being of Simelane,” argued the police officer.
He told the court that it was without doubt that Neves was a people’s person and was adored by many, mostly her family and friends. Ndlangamandla argued that it would be careless and even suicidal to release Simelane on bail at such an early stage of the incident.  It was further the investigator’s argument that the family was still reeling from the broil death of their loved one. “I wish to state that releasing the applicant out on bail would cause anarchy and chaos even more unnecessary crimes which could be easily prevented by keeping Simelane in custody,” he argued. In his application for bail, Simelane claimed that he was a sickly person who needed constant medical attention.  The investigator, in his opposing affidavit informed the court that the country’s Correctional facilities were equipped to deal with any ailments that might affect inmates. “It is not an issue that Simelane may well have suffered from the cryptococcal meningitis at some point in his life. I submit that doctors were, however, able to help in 2013 because nine years later, he never suffered from it again,” contended Detective Constable Ndlangamandla. He also brought it to the attention of the court that the Correctional officers do take sick inmates to the government hospitals to see specialist doctors should they need to and this has never been an issue.

Arrested

The accused was arrested on February 9, 2022 by Nhlangano police. He was accused of unlawfully and intentionally killing Neves by assaulting her with a blunt object on the body.
In his bail application, he stated that he was confident that he would be acquitted when the matter went to trial.  “I deny any such wrongdoing and I am also surprised. I have full confidence in that I will be acquitted when the matter is tried,” said Simelane. Accoridng to Simelane, he suffered from a disease that affected his brain such that it caused him headaches and blurred his vision. He alleged that he had been to a number of health facilities in and outside Eswatini. Simelane told the court that he was once admitted to hospital for the same sickness in February 2013. In 2013, according to Simelane, he was then funded by Phalala Fund to conduct an operation in his head in the Republic of South Africa at Health Share Hospital.

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