MBABANE – The High Court of Eswatini has found former Deputy Sheriff Vusi Charles Mncina guilty of murdering four women and attempting to murder a fifth woman during a shooting at Goje Township, Ezulwini, on October 28, 2023.
Judge Titus Mlangeni delivered the judgment on September 23, 2026. The deceased were Lungile Shongwe, aged 49, Fikile Shongwe (44), Cynthia Khulile Shongwe (47) and Nonhlanhla Thwala (45). Thuli Mkhwanazi survived the shooting.
The court heard that Cynthia, who was Mncina’s girlfriend, had hosted a party at her home. Later in the evening, the women gathered in a pantry measuring about three metres by 1.5 metres.
Mkhwanazi, the only eyewitness, testified that Mncina came to the pantry door, said something to Cynthia and then drew a firearm and shot her.
According to the witness, Mncina continued firing while the women pleaded for mercy. There was a pause of about three seconds after Cynthia was shot before the shooting resumed.
Mkhwanazi testified that Cynthia was the first person shot, followed by Lungile, Fikile and Thwala. She was the last person standing and was shot once in the right side of her chest. The bullet entered through the front and exited through her back.
The court found that the women were effectively trapped inside the small pantry. An inspection in loco conducted on June 17, 2026, confirmed the dimensions of the pantry and the position from which Mncina fired the shots.
Mkhwanazi later crawled to another part of the house before receiving assistance. She was taken to Mbabane Government Hospital, where she was treated for a penetrating chest injury that affected her lung and breathing. She was discharged on November 6, 2023.
A police pathologist testified that Lungile suffered four gunshot wounds, while Cynthia died from a gunshot injury to the head. Fikile sustained two bullet wounds, while Thwala suffered injuries to the right arm and chest.
The court heard that six empty cartridges, two bullet heads and a black holster were found in the pantry. The firearm was later handed over to police at Lobamba Police Station.
Mncina testified that he had experienced memory loss and did not remember shooting the women. He said he had earlier seen Cynthia kissing one of the two men who had attended the party, and that the incident had affected him.
He said he had subsequently spoken to Pastor Sabelo Mavuso, who advised him to leave the situation and attend a funeral service at Bhunya. Mncina nevertheless remained at the house.
The court rejected his defence of sane automatism, finding that he had not provided expert medical evidence to establish that he had acted involuntarily or to explain the factors that could have caused such conduct.
Judge Mlangeni found that the shooting followed a period of at least one hour during which Mncina had opportunities to leave the scene. “The accused had consciously positioned himself at the pantry door,” said the judge.
The court concluded that the Crown had proved criminal intent beyond reasonable doubt and found Mncina guilty of the four murders and the attempted murder of Mkhwanazi. The court found that there were extenuating circumstances in respect of Cynthia’s murder.
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