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BIG-BEND WARDER FOUND DEAD IN GOVT HOUSE

By Bongiwe Dlamini | 2020-04-09

A warder was found dead in a government house on Tuesday evening.

The male employee of His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS) Richard Sihlongonyane’s body was discovered by his lover at Big Bend Correctional facility.

Details of Sihlongonyane’s death were scanty but sources close to the matter alleged that his lover had gone there to check on him following that he had not answered her calls over the weekend up to Monday.

It is also said that Sihlongonyane never showed up for work on Monday morning when he was supposed to be on duty.

On the day his body was discovered, sources said Sihlongonyane’s companion found the door unlocked. To her shock, she reportedly found Sihlongonyane on his bed unconscious so she called for help from other officers to witness the incident.

It was further disclosed that Sihlongonyane did not share the house he lived in, unlike his colleagues.

“We don’t know what happened to him but he had a known sickness,” said a source.

Death

Chief Police Information and Communication Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati and HMCS Deputy Public Relations Officer Senior Superintendent Mandla Sibiya confirmed the death of Sihlongonyane.

Sibiya said he could not divulge much about the matter but instead referred questions to the Sihlongonyane family.

House

“Yes, we have received reports that he was found dead in the government house. He had been with the Correctional Services for 30 years and he had been based at Big-Bend ever since he left college,” Sibiya said.

This incident follows one where a police officer committed suicide at Zakhele Police Camp in December 2019.

The officer Sandile ‘Nyosi’ Dlamini, who was reportedly working under the traffic department, took his own life after ingesting weevil tablets after he battled personal problems.

About a week later, a female officer based in Manzini also attempted suicide while at Zakhele Police Camp and she cited problems in her line of duty. Fortunately, she recovered after she was rushed to hospital shortly after the attempt.

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