MATSAPHA BUSINESSMAN’S MURDER MATSAPHA BUSINESSMAN’S MURDER 5TH SUSPECT SURRENDERED TO COPS

MANZINI – A fifth suspect has been arrested in connection with the murder of Matsapha businessman Sifiso Simelane and the court’s analysis was that he was on a dangerous holiday.

The businessman was brutally murdered in the early hours of January 23, 2024. The killers slit his throat open and this was after they had robbed him and his family of various items, including a car (a BMW sedan, which they later dumped at Luyengo) and money which was in his safe and bank, among other things. After killing him, they dumped his body in a forest around Malkerns.

Liyanda Mlamuli Mhlanga (26) of Gundvwini was surrendered to the police in Manzini on Wednesday and was slapped with four charges. He appeared before Manzini Senior Magistrate Sindisile Zwane yesterday. According to the charge sheet, in the first count, the accused is facing a murder charge in that on January 23, 2024, while he was at Malkerns Research in the Manzini Region, he and his accomplices allegedly killed the 42-year-old businessman by stabbing him with a knife.

In the second account, the accused person was charged with robbery. It is alleged that on January 23, 2024, while he was at Bethany, Mahlanya under Lobamba Lomdzala Constituency in the Manzini Region, he and his partners purportedly used force and violence in ordering one Mbali Mamba (businessman’s wife) not to resist as they stole a number of items which amounted to E240 700. The items which were stolen included accessories, money in cash and a car, among other things.

Robbery

Again, the accused was slapped with another charge of robbery in that on the aforementioned day, while he was in Matsapha, he and his accomplices, supposedly used force and violence ordering him (businessman) not to resist as they induced submission from one Sifiso Magongo with intent to steal some of his belongings which amounted to E785. The items included a brown jersey valued at E500, a black sweater valued at E250 and a pair of black gloves valued at E35.

In the fourth count, Mhlanga was charged with kidnapping. It is said that on January 23, 2024, while he was at Bethany, he and his accomplices, purportedly carried away and deprived Simphiwe Nkambule of her liberty by putting her inside a car and moving with her around Ezulwini and Matsapha the whole night. During his appearance in court, he was informed that if he did not afford to hire a lawyer to represent him, the state would provide one for him during his trial as he was facing serious charges.

As she was reading the charges, the senior magistrate wanted to know what the suspecct did for a living, since he was facing serious chargess. In response, Mhlanga said he was unemployed. Thereafter, the senior magistrate asked him if he loved himself and he responded to the positive. The court then said it was posing these questions because when it looked at the charges, it seemed the accused person was on a dangerous holiday.

The suspect was remanded in custody and was informed that he would appear for a remand hearing at Manzini Remand Centre, pending his committal to the High Court. He was also advised that if he wanted to move a bail application, he should do so at the High Court. It is worth noting that other suspects who are behind bars in connection with the murder of the businessman, include Bongiwe Nokuphiwa Nhlabatsi (34) from Hlatikulu, Lindokuhle Shawn Dlamini (23) from Mdzimba and Sipho Zikalala (24) from Nyonyane.

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