MURDER-SUICIDE: COPS GUARD BODIES ALL NIGHT

NHLANGANO - Police officers were forced to guard two bodies for seven hours due to a lack of suitable lighting.

Normally, in murder cases, police inspect the crime scene, collect evidence, take photographs and remove the body. However, in this instance, officers had to remain at the scene with the families until sunrise as there was no proper lighting.

The incident involved the death of 23-year-old Siphesihle Msibi from Holneck, who was murdered by the father of their one-year-old child. Msibi suffered a slit throat, stab wounds to the heart and thigh, and other assault injuries. The attack occurred on Tuesday at approximately 4pm in Holneck, within the Maseyisini constituency.

The murder suspect, 43-year-old Muzi Dlamini from Mehlwabovu, in the Nkwene constituency, subsequently ingested poison at Mehlwabovu. It is alleged he was en route to kill their child but did not reach the family home. Police reportedly arrived at Holneck at 7:30pm, where they found Msibi’s body. Officers guarded the scene until 6am the following morning.

A separate source indicated police arrived at Mehlwabovu at 8pm, where they, along with family members, guarded Dlamini’s body until 6am. In both cases, the lack of adequate lighting forced officers to remain at the scenes for extended periods, delaying crucial evidence collection and body removal. Both families were told the bodies would be removed in the morning when there was sufficient daylight, due to the lack of lighting for night-time incidents.

Police gathered evidence and took photographs at both locations yesterday morning. Msibi’s body was then taken to Nhlangano funeral parlour.

This echoes a similar incident last year at Maphalaleni, KaNcesi, where approximately 250 residents and police guarded the body of 21-year-old Thulile Mayenziwe Mncina for over seven hours, also due to insufficient lighting. Mncina was allegedly strangled by her 19-year-old boyfriend, and her body was found in a ditch. Police arrived at the scene around 11pm but could not conduct a proper investigation until daylight. Residents remained at the scene with the police until 6:30am.

Msibi’s family allege she had recently returned from Dlamini’s residence after an altercation where she reportedly assaulted him with a bush knife and a knobkerrie. She sought refuge with neighbours before hitchhiking back to Holneck the following morning.

Abuse

The family further allege numerous incidents of physical abuse by Dlamini had caused Msibi to flee to her family home, but she was often persuaded to return. They assert that on the day of the incident, Msibi initially resisted going with Dlamini but eventually agreed, prior to her death.

According to Lungile Msibi, Siphesihle’s elder sister, Dlamini arrived at their home at approximately 2pm on the day of the incident. Before his arrival, he phoned Siphesihle, asking her to meet him at the station. She declined, stating she was busy preparing food for builders and was alone. However, Msibi’s sister told this publication that Dlamini proceeded to their home, finding Siphesihle with her sister and grandmother. Dlamini, upon arrival, removed his hat and greeted them.

He requested to take Siphesihle to collect their child from Mehlwabovu, claiming he was struggling to care for the child alone. Lungile questioned him about how he intended to collect the child, given Siphesihle had reported being assaulted by him with a bush knife and a knobkerrie.

Lungile further alleged that Dlamini had threatened to break Siphesihle’s bones, saying she would need a taxi to Hlatikhulu Government Hospital. However, he claimed he had not severely assaulted her, admitting only to grabbing her by the neck and banging her against a wall.

Lungile told Dlamini the decision was Siphesihle’s. Lungile told this publication that Dlamini then spoke to Siphesihle, who initially resisted. She stated she would not return to his home because he failed to pay child maintenance. However, Dlamini reportedly begged her and promised to provide maintenance. He then requested to speak to Siphesihle in private.

Child

They went behind the houses and entered a room. After some minutes, Dlamini emerged first and said goodbye. The family were unaware of what had transpired during their private conversation. They saw Siphesihle following him. They did not suspect he would kill her, although she appeared unhappy. They assumed she had agreed to collect the child from Mehlwabovu.

The family believes they were gone for approximately two hours. Subsequently, Siphesihle’s grandmother received a call from an unknown number. The caller asked the grandmother to hand the phone to Lungile. Lungile reported that Dlamini said: “Sengifelwe ngu Sphe (Sphe is dead)”.

When questioned about the location and time of death, Dlamini provided directions to a bush area near Holneck. He also stated he was heading home to Nkwene, where he intended to buy Coca-Cola, add Masta 900 (poison), and kill their child. Lungile, in shock, ended the call and rushed to the forest.

She was joined by her mother in the search for Siphesihle Msibi. They initially searched the wrong forest but then moved to an adjacent area, where they found her body lying unresponsive in a pool of blood at the centre of the forest. Lungile reported Siphesihle’s throat had been cut, and she had stab wounds to the heart and thighs, as well as other injuries that appeared to be from stoning.

The family immediately contacted the police. They also reported some individuals had heard someone shouting ‘inyandzaleyo’ (a cry for help) twice, but assumed it was drunk people. The family were later informed by the police that Dlamini had committed suicide. He reportedly bought Coca-Cola at a shop in Mehlwabovu, added poison, and collapsed and died before reaching home to kill the child.

Siphesihle’s mother, Ncamsile Nzima, told this publication in tears that her daughter had been a victim of assault on numerous occasions and had refused to return to Mehlwabovu due to violence and a lack of maintenance. She reported her daughter had told her Dlamini had beaten her with the flat side of a bush knife, causing her to flee home, only to be fetched by him.

She cited a recent incident where Siphesihle had been beaten with a knobkerrie and a bush knife, forcing her to seek refuge with neighbours and then hitchhike home the following morning. “I met her in Nhlangano town, and she told me she was hitchhiking home. I gave her money for the bus fare,” Ncamsile Nzima said.

Attempts were made to contact Muzi Dlamini’s family. One of his brothers, who requested anonymity, stated he was unaware of what had led his brother to commit such an act. He said he had little to add, as Muzi had not confided in them. When asked about allegations of infidelity, the brother stated Muzi had never mentioned being cheated on by Siphesihle. He clarified that they were not married, but she was the mother of his child.
The brother said he only knew Siphesihle no longer wished to live with his brother at Mehlwabovu. He said the family had not expected him to commit such an act and that they were planning a meeting to discuss the situation. When asked to respond to allegations that Muzi had given mahewu (a maize drink) laced with poison to the child, he stated this was untrue and the child was safe and with his (Muzi’s) mother.

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