3 IN CAR CHASE, SHOOTOUT WITH COPS; 1 KILLED, ANOTHER ARRESTED

PIGG’S PEAK – A suspect was killed during a car chase and shootout with the police at Emsindza, near Dvokolwako, on Sunday.

Another was arrested, while the third managed to elude arrest, as police, with the help of community members, closed in on the three suspects allegedly linked to robberies and theft of guns at the home of Pigg’s Peak Acting Mayor Absalom Ndlovu. The deceased suspect, whose identity had not been ascertained by yesterday, died while receiving treatment at Dvokolwako Health Centre. Sources narrated how members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS), who were investigating the theft of guns belonging to the acting mayor, received a tip-off on the location of the suspects.

Confront

They teamed up with community members to confront the suspects. The guns had been stolen during a housebreaking and robbery incident at the Glen Township home of the acting mayor last Thursday. During the robbery at the acting mayor’s home, the three suspects are said to have jumped over the fence and found his wife alone. They are then said to have assaulted and tied her up before breaking Ndlovu’s safe to steal his nine guns, which comprised of pump action rifles and pistols. Sources have revealed to this publication that after the shootout, the police were able to recover certain firearms, two of which were allegedly those stolen from Ndlovu. The retrieved guns were reportedly taken to the police laboratory for forensic analysis, which was to determine if indeed they belonged to the acting mayor.

On Sunday, sources said the REPS received a tip-off about the suspects after they had allegedly stolen a hearse at Ekhaya Funeral Services in Pigg’s Peak. The trio is said to have stolen the hearse on Sunday, at around 2:30am, at the mortuary. The incident was also confirmed by Ekhaya Funeral Services Manager Musa Vilakati. “It is true that there are people who stole a hearse at the mortuary on Sunday morning. They also stole money amounting to E7 900,” said Vilakati. The manager also disclosed that during the robbery at Ekhaya Funeral Services, the suspects tied up the lone security guard, who was on duty, before stealing the car and cash. “The police have also informed me that they were able to find our hearse around Dvokolwako. They have asked me to come to Dvokolwako to identify the vehicle. I have not yet been able to go there due to other work commitments, but am planning to go there soon,” he said. The hearse is a black Nissan X-Trail SUV model. The sources said the trio allegedly used the car to commit three other robberies around Phuzumoya and Mliba.

Tipped-off

“The police were eventually tipped-off after the suspects had committed a third robbery at Mliba. They committed the other two at Phuzumoya,” said the source. The REPS is said to have coordinated an apprehension mission, which resulted in the dramatic chase at Emsindza, where the suspects were eventually caught. Though most of the crimes were committed round Pigg’s Peak, sources alleged that it was not the small town’s officers who were at the forefront in the dramatic chase and shootout, but those from Mbabane. “The suspects were fleeing towards Mbabane when the chase and shooting with the police occurred. The shot and killed suspect is from Maloma in the southern Lubombo Region,” confided a source.

Chief Police Information and Communications Officer, Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, confirmed that there was a shootout between three suspects and the police on Sunday, where one of the suspects ‘was injured with gunshots wounds and died while undergoing treatment at the Dvokolwako Health Centre,’ where he had been rushed to after being injured. “It is unfortunate that one of the suspect succumbed to gunshots wounds while undergoing treatment in hospital. Two guns and two bullets were found in the vehicle in which the suspects were travelling,” she said. Vilakati said the suspects were connected to a string of armed robbery cases around the area, which irked the community that ended up being involved in the chase and apprehension of the other suspect.

“As members of the REPS, we want to sincerely extend our appreciation to the members of the public for their assistance because they risked their lives to help the police. They used their own resources. Taxi drivers also used their vehicles to chase after the suspects. We are grateful for their help, it was unfortunate that one of the suspects eventually died,” said Vilakati. She added that the police were still examining the two pistols found in the suspects’ possession and could not yet link the weapons with or to anyone, pending finalisation of forensic analysis.

Shootout

Meawhile, in a similar incident, this publication reported last month, that a 29-year-old man, who was a person of interest to the police, died during a shootout between the law enforcers and a group of suspects. The incident occurred at Mahwalala, which is a township situated 7.6 kilometres away from the capital city, Mbabane. This incident occurred on a Sunday, around 9pm. The deceased was said to have been part of about 14 men who were wanted by the police in connection with cases of assault and theft of a firearm. According to an impeccable source, the suspects assaulted three men from the area and the victims of the assault sought the help of a relative, who was believed to be a member of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF), to help them in locating the suspects.

The purpose of locating the suspects, as was revealed by the source, was to avenge the assault of his relatives, but he too (soldier) was assaulted and the suspects disarmed him and left with his firearm. The police, at the time, confirmed the assault of the three men from Mahwalala and the theft of the firearm. Vilakati said police officers went to Mahwalala on that Sunday evening in search for the suspects and they got information on their whereabouts. She said after locating the suspects, a shootout ensued and one of them was shot dead.

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