UEDF, COPS CONFIRM ARMY CAMP SHOOTOUT ...

ZIBONELE – Unknown gunmen opened fire at an Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) battalion at Zibonele Army Camp on Tuesday night.

The camp is situated near Eswatini’s boundary with South Africa and it is an area usually used by dagga dealers to smuggle the illegal herb to the neighbouring country. Sources revealed that there were several gunshots heard by residents of the area, starting from around 8pm. It is unclear why the unidentified gunmen targeted the army camp, but sources also claimed that the attack could be politically motivated. During a visit to the place, a single tent was found pitched, surrounded by a thicket. Though sources claimed that during the exchange of gunfire, the tent was riddled with bullet holes, when this reporter arrived at the camp, the tent was found almost intact. It could not be ascertained if a new one had been pitched as none of the soldiers present wanted to entertain this reporter.

Casualties

At least five soldiers were found outside during the visit. It could not be established if there were others inside. An official report from the army was to the effect that there were no casualties, despite admitting an exchange of gunfire between soldiers and the unknown gunmen. According to residents, the exchange of gunfire happened for the better part of Tuesday night. Members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) from departments such as the Serious Crime Unit (Lukhozi), the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and the Operational Support Services Unit (OSSU), among others, were reportedly spotted in the early hours of yesterday morning driving towards the camp. “The police who came here this morning included those based in Manzini from Lukhozi and CID. They drove in a quantum and there were UEDF vehicles as well, also heading to the same direction,” said a resident.

Media

A senior member of the UEDF at the camp could not relay much about what transpired as he indicated that he had been ordered to inform the media to contact the army spokesperson at the UEDF in Nokwane. UEDF Public Relations Officer 2nd Lieutenant Tengetile Khumalo confirmed the exchange of gunfire between unknown gunmen and members of the UEDF at Zibonele Army Camp on Tuesday night. Khumalo said: “The UEDF would like to confirm receipt of a detailed report directed to the Office of the Public Affairs of a far-off failed shooting attempt by unknown persons last night (Tuesday) from the battalion in charge of the operational area. The unknown people fired distantly at the base where unfortunately a by-passer and a resident’s vehicle caught fire and in the process shot at by the suspects.”

Khumalo stated that the resident sought protection from the soldiers, who were constantly on high alert. She said there were no casualties after the shootout. “The UEDF would like to condemn and caution against such criminality. the defence force will not rest until all the suspects are brought to book and taken on,” she said. The police, through Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, also confirmed that a group of unknown gunmen aimed and fired multiple gunshots at Zibonele Army Camp on Tuesday night and when they attended to the scene, after being called by the soldiers, they found that no one was injured. This incident happened at a time when law enforcers have been targeted by unknown people. Two accused persons are currently in custody after allegedly shooting a pair of traffic police officers dead in broad daylight and took their R4 assault rifle while they were manning a roadblock along a residential route - Woodmaster Street, behind Grand Valley (GV) Complex.

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