I’M SORRY – NTUTHUKO

MBABANE – Ntuthuko Dlamini has apologised to the families of the three men he is accused to have shot and killed at Mhlabubovu.

Two of the men, Andreas Tsabedze and Sikhulu Shongwe, were confirmed dead upon arrival at Mankayane Government Hospital after the shooting incident that happened on September 7, 2020. The third man, Simon Dlamini, died while receiving treatment at the Mbabane Government Hospital. The doctor who was treating him told the court that Simon developed bacteria while being treated and it resulted in his death. The former LaMgabhi Constituency Member of Parliament (MP) and minister of Public Works and Transport, gave evidence yesterday before Judge Maxine Langwenya.

Ntuthuko extended his apology, not only to the families of the men who died as a result of the shooting that happened during the allocation of land to a certain man by a council of Luyengweni Umphakatsi, but to the nation as well. He also apologised to his own family for the incident which resulted in him being charged with three counts of murder and one of possessing a firearm without a valid permit. “May I apologise to the families of those who died on this day. May I also apologise to the entire nation and my own family,” said the former minister. Members of the families of the deceased and Ntuthuko’s family, as well as members of the communities of Luyengweni and LaMgabhi, were present in court when Ntuthuko apologised.

He said there was nothing pleasant with what happened on the day of the incident. “This thing has closed many opportunities for me. Like I have mentioned, I regret the incident,” he added. The murder accused narrated to the court that on the day of the incident, September 7, 2020, he was at his shopping complex at Mhlabubovu where he was welding. He said three men, Sipho Matsebula, Derrick Maziya and Vusi Zulu, came to the shopping complex and requested him to come with them as there was something he needed to see. He said they were the umgijimi, community police member or inner council member and resident. The accused person said he requested that they give him time but they said he had to come promptly because something wrong was being done. He stated that the men showed him the shortest route to where they were supposed to go and they led the way. “One of these people said I should lead the talks because I am a prince,” said Ntuthuko.

According to Ntuthuko, he greeted the council and those with them at Mhlabubovu, who were allocating the land, and he enquired from the Luyengweni people as to what they were doing there. He said the people did not respond and one Big Boy Maseko asked who the accused person was. He told the court that he only knew Bhekwako Mkhabela and the others he knew only as residents. “One of the people shouted and said I should approach the relevant structures if I had issues. I calmly asked which King they wanted to listen to because this matter had been finalised. I turned to Bhekwako and asked why he was there. He did not respond but someone else responded and said they were sent by Chief Lembelele,” said the former minister.

Confronted

He submitted that he told that person to shut up ‘as I do not speak to imfucuta’. This, according to Ntuthuko, did not go down well with the people who had gathered there. He said one Sihle Dlamini confronted him about being called  timfucuta and told him not to refer to them by that word. Ntuthuko told the court that he had directed the word to the one who had responded when he was speaking to Mkhabela. “The way Sihle stood up frightened me. Sihle raised his voice and so did I. He mentioned my previous position as minister and that I thought I had money. During the confrontation, which was almost physical, Sihle turned back and one Simon Dlamini stood up. Simon came about five metres close and raised his knobkerrie. I took out my gun and shot him around the hand to disarm him. Mr Sikhulu (Shongwe) came from behind me and fired a shot at me. I turned and saw him pointing a gun at me and I shot him in the chest. He was flung in the air as I shot him and I shot him again out of shock.

“When he fell, Tsabedze came running and I shot him. Shongwe tried to reach for his gun next to him as he lay on the ground and I thought he wanted to shoot me. I stood at a distance and shot him again. There was total silence. I took Shongwe’s gun and holster,” Ntuthuko narrated. He submitted that his uncle, Mkhabela, went to his car and he followed him. He said he told Bhekwako that ‘malume senginifake elishweni lelinjani’ (I have put you in such a mess). The matter continues on December 5, 2022.

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