MURDER, CHILD TORTURE CHARGES FOR NHLANGANO WOMAN

NHLANGANO- A 37-year-old woman from Mbowane has been remanded in custody after being charged with four counts, including murder.

Other charges are attempted murder, sexual offences and domestic violence (SODV), and contraventions of child protection and welfare legislation.

Nqobile Shongwe appeared before Senior Magistrate Jabulani Maphalala at the Shiselweni Magistrate's Court yesterday, where she was remanded until April 10,2025, pending committal to the High Court.

The charges against Shongwe include murder, with the prosecution alleging that on March 11,2025, at Siphumelele, she unlawfully killed Simamukele Dlamini. The second count accuses her of attempted murder, also alleged to have occurred at Siphumelele, where she is accused of unlawfully assaulting a child with intent to kill.

The third count concerns contraventions of Section 48(1) of the Children's Protection and Welfare Act 6 of 2012. The prosecution alleges that Shongwe unlawfully assaulted a child, deprived him of food, and confined him within the house while he was under her care.

The fourth count charges Shongwe with contravening Section 77(1)(a), (b), (d), and (e) of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act 15 of 2018. The prosecution alleges that, as a person with parental responsibility for the three year-old child, she unlawfully assaulted him, issued threats, and deprived him of food.

During her court appearance, Senior Magistrate Maphalala ordered that Shongwe be remanded in custody until April 10, 2025, pending committal to the High Court. The Crown further applied for the extraction of blood samples from the accused, which was granted by the magistrate. Shongwe was advised that she may apply to the High Court for bail if she wishes to do so.

This publication has recently reported that the tranquil community of Siphumelele, nestled three kilometres west of Nhlangano town, has been shattered by the tragic death of a four-year-old child and the revelation of appalling abuse inflicted upon him and his three-year-old sibling. The children, placed in the care of a local woman by a pastor, endured a systematic campaign of cruelty that has ignited widespread grief and anger amongst residents.

The harrowing ordeal came to light after concerned neighbours, frustrated by repeated denials of entry to the suspect’s residence, forcibly entered the property. What they discovered was a scene of unspeakable neglect and brutality. The children were severely malnourished, visibly weak, and bore extensive signs of physical abuse. Residents allege that the children were subjected to a regime of torture, routinely underfed, and provided with food of significantly lower quality than that given to the suspect’s biological children.

According to witness accounts, the children were confined to the house day and night, subjected to daily beatings with broomsticks, and forced to drink from a soiled toilet bowl. Their private parts were allegedly bound to prevent urination, and they were often restrained throughout the day, only being released around 9pm. Tragically, the four-year-old child succumbed to injuries sustained from these brutal assaults.

The suspect, who had relocated from Ezulwini in December, was known to be loud and authoritarian, causing her biological children to be fearful. However, the severity of the abuse remained concealed until neighbours overheard a disturbing conversation between the suspect’s biological children. One child mentioned that one of the abused children had freed himself, prompting the suspect to address the matter upon her return.

Upon the suspect’s arrival, residents heard the children crying, leading to further investigations. A tenant, who entered the residence, confirmed that the children had indeed freed themselves. Subsequently, the suspect allegedly beat the children with two broomsticks, inflicting injuries all over their bodies. She was reportedly heard demanding why they had eaten her cornflakes and fish.

The children’s mother, Lindokuhle Jele, 24, has since come forward, revealing that her “wayward lifestyle” led to the children being taken from her care. She admitted to spending little time with her children, preferring to socialise with friends. A relative took the children from her on November 30, 2024, promising to place them with a woman they knew from church.

Lindokuhle initially believed the children were being cared for by a church member in Mbabane. However, she later learned that the woman had relocated to Nhlangano with the children, without her knowledge. The surviving child, who spoke during an interview with his mother, recalled being subjected to harsh treatment, including being placed under a cold shower with his brother and left outside in the cold until the early hours of the morning.

Lindokuhle made regular calls to check on her children, but the relative reassured her that they were fine. Eventually, the relative blocked her number. She was only informed of her eldest child’s death on Wednesday, when she was called to Nhlangano by the police. The surviving child was found in a distressed state, with bruises across his body and face, as well as a broken arm, and was receiving medical treatment at Hlatikhulu Government Hospital.

Pastor Samson Jele, who was alleged to have given away the children, denied the claims, stating that the woman was a nanny who was paid monthly and provided with groceries. He said that the woman was known to his family as a Christian and had cared for the children while residing in Ezulwini. He confirmed that the woman was asked to care for the children due to Lindokuhle's inability to do so.

The community of Siphumelele is now grappling with the shock and grief of this tragedy, demanding justice for the abused children, and seeking answers regarding the circumstances that led to the death of the four-year-old. The surviving child continues to receive medical care, while the community mourns the loss of a young life and seeks to understand how such horrific abuse could have occurred within their midst.

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