E1.3M DAMAGE AS BEVERAGES MANAGER’S HOME, CAR TORCHED

TIMBUTINI – Sifiso Simelane suffered damages estimated to be around E1.3 million when his house and Audi A3 sedan were petrol- bombed by unknown arsonists on Tuesday evening.

Simelane is the Eswatini Beverages Risk Manager, who recently testified in the ongoing trial of incarcerated Members of Parliament (MPs), Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza of Hosea Constituency and Mthandeni Dube, who was elected at Ngwempisi Inkhundla. His homestead is located at Vulamehlo, Timbutini under Mafutseni Constituency. This is a community which is located about 21 kilometres in the south-eastern part of Manzini. It is worth noting that in his testimony, among other things, Simelane reportedly informed the court that he did not see anyone being shot. He reportedly admitted that he had heard gunshots being fired when the crowd was being dispersed. However, he submitted that he did not see anyone get injured or killed.

It is said following his testimony in court, the risk manager supposedly received a call from a private number on March 23, 2022. The call, according to impeccable sources, alluded to his submissions in court and was followed by threats. He was said to have reported the threats at the Matsapha Police Station. It was further gathered that on Tuesday, the day when his homestead was set alight by the unknown arsonists, Simelane purportedly received a phone call, through which he was informed that there were clients seeking his assistance at his homestead, particularly people who wanted to consult him. It is worth noting that the risk manager is also a traditional healer. When he received the phone call about the supposed clients, he was at work and he allegedly made a promise to come and attend to them.

However, along the way, he is said to have made a stop at a shopping complex to greet some of his friends, whom he supposedly informed that he was rushing to attend some clients who were waiting for him at his home. It was claimed that thereafter, Simelane relaxed with his friends. The sources further purported that when his acquaintances enquired if he still recalled that there were people waiting for him and in response; Simelane told them that the clients would wait if they really needed his assistance. Meanwhile, it has been gathered that the people who purportedly presented themselves as clients at his homestead were two males.

Arsonists

It was gathered that given the delay in the arrival of the risk manager, the pair was joined by another two, who came from the northern part of the homestead. In essence, this means that the suspected arsonists formed a quartet and are said to have been together at the homestead at about 6pm. On the other hand, the northern part of the homestead is in close proximity to a river wherein a fence was cut so that the last pair could gain entry into Simelane’s compound. Upon arrival, it was gathered that they reportedly ordered Simelane’s son, a relative who had come to plait her hair, and his wife, out of the house. This was reportedly after the quartet had asked for the whereabouts of Simelane and alluded to him being a witness in the MPs case. Subsequently, the quartet is said to have ushered the family members into a rondavel, where they locked them in before returning to his three-bedroom house.

It was gathered that before dousing the house with petrol and throwing a petrol bomb, the arsonists took two guns belonging to the Eswatini Beverages risk manager. The house, which consisted of three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room and a kitchen, was reduced to rubble as all items could not be saved. The roofing of the house, which was tiles, caved inwards while the aluminium window frames melted. Also, the window panes were said to have busted due to the licking flames. This resulted in the upper parts of the wall around the house being covered in soot.

Furthermore, the unknown arsonists also petrol-bombed his hatchback sedan, an Audi A3. The car was near a water container, which partially melted during the arson attack. Worth noting is that an indumba (consultation room), indlu yakagogo (grandmother’s hut) and an under construction rondavel, were spared. The sources said neighbours, who heard the explosions and also saw the smoke and flames of the fire, raised the alarm. This resulted in the Eswatini National Fire and Emergency Services (ENFES) personnel and the police being called to the scene.

Responded

It was gathered that considering the distance of the gravel road, which is about 5 kilometres, the emergency personnel responded promptly to the call, but could not save the items which were inside the house and the vehicle. In fact, they said despite their prompt response, the car and all items inside the house had been reduced to rubble when the police and fire fighters arrived. Given that the efforts to extinguish the fire lasted until late into the night on Tuesday, about 20 police officers returned to the scene yesterday. The officers were from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Serious Crimes Unit (Lukhozi), Operational Support Services Unit (OSSU), Scenes of Crime Department and those from the K-9 Department, who brought a sniffer dog. The police officers prepared for their investigations from as early as 7am and were at the scene until just after 12pm. The team partitioned itself into two as some officers followed the sniffer dog which from the house led the officers where the fence was cut. The team was said to have been led by the sniffer dog across the Mzimpofu River, up until they reached the road where it is suspected the arsonists boarded their vehicle and fled the scene.

While at the forest, which is adjacent to the river and across the homestead, the sniffer dog reportedly led the officers to exhibits that had been burnt by the arsonists. Meanwhile, the other team was left within the compound and it comprised of the Scenes of Crime Department. The officers from this department with those from OSSU and some CIDs, searched for evidence within the homestead.

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