OVER E300K POLICE PRIVATE CARS BURNT

MBABANE – Private cars belonging to police officers at Mbabane Police Camp with a combined value of over E320 000 were burnt yesterday morning.

The perpetrators of the arson attack on the vehicles belonging to the police officers are not known yet and no arrests have been made yet. The attack was alleged to be an attribution of a group of protestors who were picketing around Msunduza at about 9pm on Friday. Information gathered at the scene was that a group of over 30 protestors were marching around the streets of Msunduza, which is within the same vicinity with the Police Camp. Those at the scene believed that part or some of the protestors came back at about 2am to burn the cars.
Each of the sedan cars that were burnt at the camp could cost an estimated E80 000 and those close to the owners of the cars, though speaking on conditions of anonymity due to police procedure, confirmed the estimated figure.  A 5litre container with petrol remains and a red t-shirt allegedly inscribed with a name of one of the political parties, was found at the scene and taken as evidence. It was not ascertained as to how the arsonists gained entrance into the police camp.

Most of the police officers who reside in the camp expressed their concerns over the arson attack and some even mentioned the name of the political movement suspected to have played a part in the arson. The name of the political party will not be mentioned because there was no official statement linking it to the act. One of the police officers found at the scene said he was highly convinced that the attack was politically motivated, as the protestors were having a rally just a walking distance from the police camp. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the police officer said they were greatly concerned because their safety was being compromised.

“Who knows what these people will do next time, in Matsapha, they bombed houses and what if there were people inside. This is a serious cause for concern and we are now worried because we leave our children when we go on duty and anything can happen. It is a  mystery how they got in the camp and how they could just do what they did and leave without anyone noticing,” said the concerned cop. The officer stated that they no longer felt safe as such happened while they were sleeping. He said though as officers they were willing to do everything in their power to catch the perpetrators, they were convinced that the motivation behind the attack was politically motivated.

The police service however refused to give an official statement on the arson. Senior officers who were found at the scene said they were waiting for the National Commissioner Tsintsibala Dlamini, to see the damage. They stated that a comment from the security service would then be issued through the office of the Police Information and Communications Officer (PICO) Superintendent Phindile Vilakati. “We are still waiting for NATCOM and we request that you do not take any pictures because the police camp is a private space for the police service. We will have to wait with you for the PICO to arrive and give us instructions on what needs to be done regarding the media.

As you can see, everyone that is here is very much worried about what happened so we request that you give us privacy until the PICO gives us instructions after consulting the Commissioner. I don’t want you to even mention my name on this because the matter is very sensitive to the police service,” said a senior officer.The Police Forensic Department was already at the scene studying the environment, in search of clues that could lead them to the apprehension of the arsonists. A grass cutter was also at the scene clearing the nearest thicket which was suspected to have been the getaway route for the arsonists.

Comment

When contacted for a comment, Supt. Vilakati refused to comment on the matter saying she was yet to meet with the Commissioner in the afternoon. Attempts were made to get a comment from her in the afternoon and she again refused to comment. “I will not give you any comment, in fact the issues of arson I do not comment on so forget about getting a comment from me. In fact I will not comment on any other matter that you ask me to comment on,” she said.

The burning of the police cars comes after a one-bedroom rondavel belonging to a police officer stationed at Mpolonjeni Police Post was gutted by a fire suspected to have been caused by an electric fault. The incident happened at Lubilweni area under KaLanga Umphakatsi. Four houses belonging to the REPS were torched by unknown arsonists in October last year at Sigodvweni Police Camp in Matsapha. The houses were targeted by arsonists who were purported to be pro-democracy activists. It was alleged that the arsonists took advantage of the fact that the occupants were on duty at the time they committed the heinous act.

The country has been experiencing a spate of bombings and arson acts since the beginning of the political unrests in May last year. Damage estimated to be above E800 million was done on properties around the country, including shops and schools. His Majesty’s Correctional Services employees were also alleged to have been shot at in Matsapha in what appeared to be a politically motivated attack.  Unverified reports carried by online publications also attributed the arson attack on the police cars to what was termed as ‘The Swaziland International Solidarity Forces’ (SISF). Such allegations and information cannot be confirmed as true until the alleged SISF or its leader come out to claim responsibility of the act.  

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