MBABANE – Vusi Mncina, who was a deputy sheriff, has apologised to the families of the five women he reportedly shot, killing four, including his girlfriend.
Mncina is on trial for the murder of Cynthia Shongwe, who was his girlfriend, Lungile Shongwe, Nonhlanhla Thwala and Fikile Shongwe on October 28, 2023. The fifth woman, Thuli Mkhwanazi, survived after being admitted to hospital. The Crown closed its case and yesterday Mncina, who is represented by Xolani Mthethwa, took to the stand.
He told Judge Titus Mlangeni that he does not know what triggered him to fire the shots that killed his girlfriend, Cynthia, and her friends.
Mncina also testified that he had no reason to shoot the other victims because they had done nothing to him.
“I can’t tell what triggered the shooting, because it is not something I thought about. I had no reason to shoot even the other victims because they had not done anything to me.
I really don’t know what triggered the shooting. I didn’t think something like that could happen,” he said.
He said he then decided to go to the police station because he wanted the authorities to assist the women if they were still alive.
The accused also told the court that after being locked up, he attempted to reach out to the families of the victims after learning the extent of the harm caused.
Mncina, who was emotional, said he contacted his uncles Bafana Sibandze and Sandile Dlamini to ask them to visit the families of the women, but they declined because they feared going to the scene shortly after the incident.
He said he also tried to send his sister to Cynthia’s family, but she was afraid. However, he said she later attended Cynthia’s funeral.
“May I point out that I had no control over many things after being detained. I would have done more,” he said.
“I humble myself before the court and ask for forgiveness from the families of the deceased and their friends. I know it’s not easy, but I ask for their forgiveness,” he said.
He said he was aware that children had been left without their mothers because of his actions.
“I am aware that today some children don’t have mothers, as I speak, because of me. I believe God will help me,” he said.
Mncina also told the court that he had been struggling with serious marital problems before his relationship with Cynthia developed.
He said he had attempted to resolve the problems in his marriage but had failed, and the people he approached for assistance could not help him.
“I became vulnerable and I could talk to Cynthia,” he said.
Mncina said Cynthia had children and that he had a good relationship with them while staying at her residence in Goje Township, Ezulwini. He said he got along very well with Cynthia’s four daughters and her two grandchildren.
He told the court that he had stayed with Cynthia for about two to three months before the incident.
Giving evidence before Judge Mlangeni, Mncina recounted the events of October 28, 2023, including the hours leading up to the shooting incident at his partner Cynthia’s home at Goje Township, Ezulwini.
Mncina told the court that he and Cynthia had been living together for about two to three months before the incident. He said they woke up together that morning before he received a telephone call from his wife at about 8am informing him that one of their children was ill.
According to Mncina, Cynthia agreed that he should go and check on the child. He said he told her that after attending to the child, he would proceed to a funeral in Mankayane.
He testified that he found the child sick and took the child to Mvutjini Clinic for medical attention. After returning home, he remained with the child for some time to monitor whether the medication was working before leaving to meet people with whom he planned to travel to the funeral.
Mncina told the court that he met his companions at a butchery near his home at KaBhelina, Ezulwini, where they had already started drinking. He said he joined them at about 10am.
Judge Mlangeni asked Mncina whether he had spent enough time attending to his sick child. Mncina responded that he had also roasted meat for his children before leaving.
He testified that at about 3pm, Cynthia telephoned him requesting that he buy additional drinks because she and her friends had run out. He said Cynthia had informed him the previous day that she would host a braai and had already purchased drinks for the gathering.
Although he had intended attending the funeral, Mncina said he would have attended Cynthia’s braai because they were living together.
He told the court that he left his friends and went to buy drinks. While travelling there, Cynthia called again and asked him to bring his friends because only women were present and she believed he would be bored.
Mncina said he contacted his friends and, shortly after arriving at Cynthia’s residence, they joined him. He later entered the house, took a shower and changed his clothes.
He described the atmosphere at the gathering as lively.
Among the first people to arrive after him were two police officers, Sifiso Dlamini, who now lives in England, and Sikhokho Mabizela. Mncina said he asked Cynthia to prepare food for them.
He testified that more people later arrived, including Pastor Sabelo Mavuso and Sipho Mdluli. Two other men also arrived, whom he said he believed were not emaSwati because of their accents.
According to Mncina, Cynthia introduced the two men as her friends. While he and his companions sat on a couch drinking, Cynthia and the two men sat at a nearby table.
Mncina testified that he later went outside to urinate. When he returned, he alleged to have seen one of the foreign men touching Cynthia’s thighs.
He said he confronted Cynthia and asked why she was allowing the conduct. According to him, she did not provide a satisfactory explanation, only saying that it was not serious.
Mncina said he returned to the couch and continued sitting with his friends. About 20 minutes later, the two men announced that they were leaving, and Cynthia escorted them out through the kitchen door.
He testified that about 30 to 40 minutes later, he went outside to check whether Cynthia had returned. He said he found her speaking to people he did not know before seeing her walking back towards the house with one of the men.
According to Mncina, the pair were holding each other and occasionally stopping as they walked and later kissed. The trial continues on August 12.
