GUNSHOTS IN ROADBLOCK DRAMA AS ... 2 ARRESTED, LINKED TO KILLING OF 3 COPS, SOLDIER

MBABANE – Two suspects allegedly involved in the assassination of four State security personnel were on Saturday afternoon arrested at a roadblock manned at the Mkhondvo River Bridge.

In total, sources informed this publication that the pair was currently under investigation for 19 counts, which include the contravention of the Arms and Ammunition Act, four counts of murder, attempted murder and arson, among many. Their dramatic arrest, which drew the attention of the public, was said to have happened just after 2pm on Saturday. The suspects were said to have been travelling in a khaki (beige) Honda Fit sedan and were in the company of a South African national.The barricade was manned at about 32 kilometres from Manzini, just after the turn towards KaPhunga.

Roadblock

According to sources, the Honda Fit tried to avoid the roadblock, which was manned by officers from His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS), Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) and Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF). The sources claimed that when the vehicle approached the roadblock, one of the security personnel identified one of the people in the sedan. It was gathered that when that happened, the South African national bolted out of the vehicle.

As he fled, according to eyewitnesses, several gunshots were fired, raising  curiosity of motorists driving along the Mkhondvo – Nkwene and Mkhondvo – Manzini Public Road, popularly known as Yith’ Abantu Highway. Some foreign registered Toyota Hilux double cab GD6 bakkies were seen driving along towards the peak of the mountains in search for the suspect who had bolted. The witnesses said the number of security personnel was also increased as the three security forces called for back-up in pursuit of the fleeing suspect. The search was said to have lasted for the better part of Saturday afternoon.

Meanwhile, this publication’s reporters gathered that the pair was then taken into custody and are currently assisting police officers with information. The sources said inside the sedan, particulars of the South African national were found, among other things. This publication gathered that the pair was currently assisting police officers with information on their alleged involvement in the killing of the two Manzini Traffic Police Officers - Sifiso Mthembu and Menzi ‘Siyazi’ Dlamini. Mthembu and Dlamini were killed in their line of duty as they were ordered to lie on the ground face-down before being both shot in the head in Manzini. A R4 assault rifle was taken from the shot officers.

The sources said their suspected involvement came to the fore as they were travelling in a Honda Fit sedan similar to the one which was reported to have been used by a trio who assassinated the two law enforcers in broad daylight along Woodmasters Street on October 18, 2022. Sources claimed that the pair was also questioned on their alleged involvement in the murder of police officer Thulani Mthembu, who was shot dead at Ngculwini, Matshonga, in full view of his family members and friends. He was killed by three men on August 12, 2022 at about 10pm.

Suspected

They are suspected to have also had a hand in the death of Nkosinathi Dlamini, 57. Nkosinathi was the first State security officer to be killed and he was under the UEDF, based at Phocweni Army Barracks, along the KaKhlobile/Masundwini Public Road. He was shot dead while at his home in front of his children, just after he had attended a church service. According to the sources, the pair was suspected to have also been involved in a murder of a game ranger at Nsubane. It was also gathered that they were purportedly involved in the arson attack at the residence of the Minister of Tinkhundla Administration and Development, David ‘Cruiser’ Ngcamphalala.

It is worth noting that these suspects are adding on the number of people who have been arrested by the REPS in recent months. The REPS, in their second quarter report, said 22 people were arrested for contravening the Arms and Ammunition Act. Also, there had been calls to enact stringent gun control laws in the Kingdom of Eswatini in the face of the ongoing killing of security personnel and arson attacks. Some legislators and judicial officers opined that the penalties of possessing illegal firearms and ammunition in the country were no longer relevant with the times. This is because the illegal possession of a firearm carries a fine of E5 000, while the possession of illegal ammunition has a penalty of E1 000. These penalties form part of the Arms and Ammunition Act of 1964 as amended in 1988. On average, this publication reports about a court appearance of an individual arrested for illegal possession of a firearm or ammunition weekly.

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