MBABANE – Industrial Court Judge Abande Dlamini has lodged a formal complaint with the national commissioner of police, alleging that a police officer threatened to shoot and kill him.
The police officer in question, according to Judge Dlamini, is attempting to fabricate criminal charges against him following an altercation at a Ngculwini car wash.
In a memorandum dated February 16, 2026, addressed to the national commissioner and routed through the Judge President of the Industrial Court of Eswatini, Justice Dlamini formally registered his complaint against the officer attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Mafutseni Police Station.
The complaint arises from events that began on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at a car wash located opposite Tivoli Investments at Ngculwini.
According to Justice Dlamini, he encountered a group of men who were openly smoking marijuana and were in possession of a large quantity of the substance contained in a black plastic bag. He states that he reprimanded the men for breaking the law, which led to an altercation.
The situation escalated, he said, when one of the men allegedly blew marijuana smoke into his face. Justice Dlamini says he was carrying a blank replica gun at the time and fired a single shot to ward off what he describes as an imminent attack.
He further stated that he immediately contacted the Mafutseni Station commander and requested that a police van be dispatched to the scene.
The station commander allegedly promised to send officers immediately. However, after waiting approximately 20 minutes and as the men became increasingly rowdy and threatening, he decided to leave.
While driving near Hhelehhele junction towards Manzini, he said he received a call informing him that the police van had arrived at the scene. He told the station commander that he had already left and was on his way to Manzini.
The following day, according to the judge, social media platforms published what he describes as a false narrative alleging that he had fired live rounds at the men and that criminal charges had been opened against him at Mafutseni Police Station. He stated that he ignored the reports because he knew he had not shot at anyone with live ammunition.
On the same Thursday, he said, he returned to the car wash after earlier requesting that the men wash his vehicle.
A further altercation allegedly arose over his change. He claims that one of the men contacted police, alleging that he had drawn and pointed a firearm at him – an allegation the judge describes as false.
Justice Dlamini said within 10 minutes of that report, approximately 10 police officers were dispatched to the scene to apprehend him.
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