JAILED CHIEF’S FAMILY STILL CRAMS COP SHOP, KIDS BORN

LOBAMBA – Two and a half years later, jailed Mkhitsini Chief’s family still crams Kaphunga Police Station.

The Chairperson of the Prime Minister’s office, Senate Portfolio Committee, Senator Chief Prince Ngangabani urged Prime Minister (PM) Russell Dlamini to intervene, as police officers in the police station were sharing space with the family of the jailed Mkhitsini Chief, Mfukama Mndzebele. Chief Mfukama was sentenced in November 2022, after he shot his nephew in November 2021.

Aggrieved

The aggrieved residents torched his home and the royal kraal. The 77-year-old chief’s family of now 63 members, was given refuge at KaPhunga Police Station to save it from the wrath of the community.Senator Chief Prince Ngangabani of Kaphunga, said the police were struggling to use the police station properly, as it was shared with Chief Mfukama’s family. He said the family members had multiplied and they were now crowding the police station.The senator added that the police station had the same buildings that were built during its inception in 1984 and does not have fencing. The senator said this family used to be provided for by World Vision and some good Samaritans. He said they were over 60 in number and are growing by the day, as new children had been born in their place of refuge. The senator said the family no longer has a shelter.

“The police station is no longer recognisable, as there are people in and out of the building and the information that is collected by police is no longer safe,” he said. Adding, the chairperson said children were crawling and running in and out of the police station. He said they are concerned as a community, because it seems like government has no plans for the people crowding the cop shop.“They are giving birth like there is no tomorrow. The children are in and out of the police station and some of them sleep inside the police station conference room,” he said.The senator asked the PM to explain if there were any arrangements to properly accommodate the family. He went on to state that even Kaphunga community was not engaged in terms of how long they would be staying at the police station. The chairperson revealed that no one was even taking care of them anymore and they had nothing to eat.
He said an office had been turned into a bedroom, which is shared by the couples. “Police cannot start work until they wake up, I heard ngatsi kuyashitjwana kutsi namuhla kulala lona nemkakhe kusasa kungena labanye (the couples take turns in the room for their adult activities),” he added.

Activities

The chairperson said what was concerning was the children who grew up exposed to such activities. He urged the PM to address the issue of the family. He highlighted that the court sentenced Chief Mfukama, but the family was struggling. The senator said if the matter had to be reported to authorities in order to get direction, then let it be, for a lasting solution or permanent shelter for the family. In response, the PM acknowledged the senator’s concern and his bravery to speak about the issue. He said surely the government needed to spring into action and address the situation promptly.

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