ARMED MEN ATTACK ‘GAWUZELA’S HOME

MANZINI - Three armed men reportedly attacked the homestead of SWALIMO President Mduduzi ‘Gawuzela’ Simelane at Fairview, Manzini.

The thugs are said to have arrived at the former Siphofaneni Member of Parliament (MP) homestead in the wee hours yesterday and demanded money from the occupants. The trio, according to sources, made away with a sum of E10 000. The former MP confirmed the incident.  He related that the two men who worked in his son’s business had just closed the business at midnight and were accosted by the armed men. The robbed employees are Bonginkhosi Dlamini and Sifiso Tfwala. Simelane said the duo informed him that when they were approaching the entrance of the house, they were confronted by the gunmen who emerged from the cover of darkness. Simelane said, according to the duo, two of the robbers were neatly dressed, while the other was in casual gear. He said the men had covered their faces. The SWALIMO president said the men were all heavily armed and were wearing boots.

Assaulted

The former MP told this publication that the robbers ordered the employees to lie down. He said they assaulted them and kicked them with their boots. He also said they took the money and forced their way inside the house where his sister, Msindie, was asleep with her children. He narrated that the gunmen harassed Msindie and threatened to abduct her until the family paid them an undisclosed ransom for her freedom. He added that the men further took his son’s business ATM card, broke it and threw it away. He said they took all cellphones and threw them away. Simelane said breaking the ATM card was a sign that the gunmen were clearly intending to frustrate his incarcerated son, Zweli’s business so that it would be hard for someone else to apply for a new card again.

He said it was dangerous to be right when those in power were wrong. “Kubiza ukuphila kwethu ngesinye is’khathi,” said Simelane. He prayed that God may protect his family and all the democracy-seeking people of the country. “Nobody promised us an easy route but we were assured it shall work together for good,” he said. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati said the police were not aware of the said incident, as it was not reported to them. However, Simelane insisted that a case was opened with the police. He said Dlamini and Tfwala were the ones who reported the matter to the police. Simelane then said the duo called him when reporting the matter to the police. He stated that while reporting the matter, they were on the phone with him, hence he heard when the case was opened.

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