MBONDZELA GUARD MURDER: TWO MEN HELPING POLICE CHARGED

NHLANGANO – The two men who have been assisting the police with information on the disappearance of the Mbondzela security guard have been charged with murder.

The security guard, Vukani Mkhwanazi, went missing while on duty on May 18, 2024, at around 4pm. He was last seen wearing navy blue jeans, a grey jacket, orange and brown buffer and brown half boots. According to the police, Mkhwanazi went missing with a firearm; a panzer pump action that was loaded with 10 live rounds of ammunition. The search for Mkhwanazi took eight days, as it was started by Gege police officers on the night he went missing. Police officers from other stations in the Shiselweni Region beefed up the search last Monday and it was joined by police officers from the Matsapha Police Academy, when his body was found on Saturday.

Body

Mkhwanazi’s body was found below Masondo Mountain, which is close to where his clothes were found on the fifth day of the search. It was said that the body was found with about five stab wounds on his back and was naked. It has been gathered that the duo made their maiden court appearance at the Nhlangano Magistrates Courts on Friday. They were initially charged with kidnapping, but after Mkhwanazi’s body was found, their charge sheet was amended. They are also facing charges of assault with intent to cause grevious bodily harm. It is alleged they are also behind the assault of the security guard at Mbondzela farm three weeks ago.

They, in fact, face the same charges as those that are faced by Mnciniseli Nhleko (66), who was arrested for the assault of six security guards. The guards were allegedly assaulted for disconnecting water pipes that supply water to the farm dwellers, from the mountains.Deputy Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Assistant Superintendent Nosipho Mnguni confirmed that the duo that was assisting the police with information on Mkhwanazi’s disappearance had been formally charged. She said they appeared in court facing charges of kidnapping, as well as that of common assault and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Mnguni shared that following the developments, the charge sheet had been ammended.

Privacy

Meanwhile, the Mkhwanazi family requested to be afforded some privacy, following the discovery of Vilakati’s body. The deceased’s sister shared that their father, who is supposed to address the media, was still not in a position to speak about the whole incident adding that they would talk about the issue in due course. Minister of Tinkhundla Administration and Development Sikhumbuzo Dlamini shared that they got a directive from the King to address the issue of Mbondzela. Dlamini further highlighted that they needed to make sure that no one was infringing on the other’s right; both the residents and the farm owner. He said they had noted that there were sympathisers, who seemed to care about what was happening, yet they had their own motives. “As a country, we came from a small fire from one area, but it burnt the whole country,” he said.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: