MAN FALLS TO DEATH FROM POLICE GD6

MBABANE – When Khulekani Dlamini left his home last Saturday, little did he know that it would be the last time his family would see him.

Dlamini, who is said to have been in his 30s, was found dead in the middle of the road leading to Maguga from Pigg’s Peak, via Nginamadvolo. The deceased was found with a fractured skull and bruises. He was last seen getting into a police van, allegedly assisted to get home by the police. Noteworthy, the practice of police officers assisting members of the public with transport is not uncommon, though can vary around the world. In some countries, police officers are required to transport a person when there is a reason do so, such as if the life of that person is in danger or he appears to be walking along the side of the freeway. A relative to Dlamini, *Jabha confirmed that the family did not understand how he died and that they were looking for answers.

Victimisation

She said it appeared he had been given a lift by someone and that his body was later found on the side of the road. Jabha, who asked to have his identity hidden in fear of victimisation, said the family was surprised that there was little blood where he is said to have fallen. She argued that if he had fallen from a vehicle and died, there should have been visible blood splatter on the side of the road where he fell. In trying to establish what happened, this publication also carried out an investigation and traced Dlamini’s steps several hours before his demise. This publication gathered that, though Dlamini was from KaNdeva, he is said to have travelled to Nginamdvolo as he had family there. A relative also confirmed that indeed, he had relatives there. It was also gathered that on the night before his death, he had gone to a popular watering hole in Pigg’s Peak, where he is said to have enjoyed some alcoholic beverages. Dlamini, after enjoying some alcohol beverages, is said to have tried to go home with two women, who are said to be people he knew.

Strict

The trio is said to have gone to an area around a place known as Mhlatane in Pigg’s Peak. However, when they reached the homestead, only the two women were said to have been allowed to enter by strict security guards. This publication gathered that the security guards told Dlamini that they would not allow him to enter the homestead because he appeared drunk.
However, Dlamini is said to have insisted and an altercation ensued between him and the security guards. Noteworthy, the alleged incident happened a few metres away from a place where a man was recently beaten to death after he was accused of stealing a cellphone.However, Dlamini had not committed a crime but the altercation is said to have emanated from his refusal to accept that he was not allowed to enter the homestead. He is also alleged to have been advised that it would not be good for him to follow the women because one of them had a partner and that this would have given a wrong impression.

Assaulted

As the altercation with the security guards continued, it was alleged that Dlamini was severely assaulted. Upon noticing that the assault continued, someone is said to have called 999 to request assistance from the police. It was then that police officers from Pigg’s Peak responded and intervened to save Dlamini from being further assaulted. The police are said to have taken Dlamini away from where he was being assaulted. It was gathered that the police officers said they would take Dlamini back to his homestead. According to information obtained from some of the residents, it was gathered that the police then drove from Pigg’s Peak in the direction of Maguga. It was gathered that Dlamini had allegedly told the police that he lived around Maguga, despite that his home area is said to have been KaNdeva. It is said he was then loaded into the back of a Toyota GD6 double cab. It was the last time Dlamini was allegedly seen by some of his colleagues.

Confirmed

Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Senior Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, confirmed that a man died after falling out off a moving police vehicle. She also confirmed that the police had responded to assist when it was reported that he was being assaulted. Along, the way, Dlamini, according to Vilakati, allegedly jumped while he was in the back of a rented double cab van and that as a result he fell off and hit the tarmac. Vilakati said when police officers later realised that he was not in the van, they drove back to look for him, only to discover his lifeless body on the roadside.  Vilakati was also asked about concerns from family members that the police officers washed off the blood at the mortuary and not at a government designated place. However, she said there was nothing unusual about washing police vehicles anywhere.

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