Swazi Observer

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WARDERS KILLED INMATE – EX-CONVICT

By NONDUDUZO KUNENE | 2020-08-12

WARDERS at Sidvwashini Correctional Services facility are alleged to be behind the death of a 25-year-old male of Nkambeni (Buhlebuyeza) who died in a supposed prison gang riot.

Nkululeko ‘Gabhadia’ Nkonyane (23) from Ezulwini narrated a different version of what occurred on June 9, when Sihle ‘Mgundu’ Sibiya died at Sidvwashini Correctional Centre.

Nkonyane in an interview revealed Sibiya’s death has nothing to do with prison gang riot, instead warden officers in the facility are behind all the injuries and the loss of life that occurred that fateful evening.

Detailing the events of the day that ended up in the death of Sibiya who was a member of the 28 gang, the 23-year-old who had just completed his eight months in prison sentence for stealing a laptop said the commotion of the inmates started in the facility’s kitchen. He added that after the minor argument they went into their cell (D8). Nkonyane mentioned that as they proceeded to the cell where the argument escalated it became physical.

He said only the two inmates who had an argument fought in the cell. Nkonyane said there were 15 of them in the cell where the commission occurred. Nkonyane further revealed that after warden officers realised that there was a fight that was taking place in their cell they were ordered out and they were heavily beaten by the officers. “We were beaten for almost an hour without being questioned who were the culprits who were involved in the fight,” he said.

Nkonyane said after they were heavily assaulted by the officers, all 15 of them they were then asked who were fighting. The young man said they were assaulted with assortments of weapons, using batons, sjambok, sticks, fists, kicks and open hands by the police officers. He added that the officers demanded answers from them and threaten to heavily beat them until their last breath. Nkonyane said fearing for their lives and seeing the rage of the officers they showed them those who were involved in the fight. The young man said the officers seemed to have regained momentum as they started beating the inmates who were fighting of and one of them was Sibiya.

Unconscious

Nkonyane mentioned their fellow inmates were beaten in front of them until Sibiya was unconscious. In fact Nkonyane said they believe that Sibiya died at the facility as he did not show any signs of life when he was taken to Mbabane Government Hospital. Due to the heavy beatings that they endured that day Nkonyane revealed that one of the inmates was mentally disturbed and is currently on medication. Meanwhile, on June 10, His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS) issued a statement of a riot that occurred in the facility of notorious prison gangs.

In the statement the service presented an account of her preliminary investigations leading to officers exercising Section 12 of the Correctional Services Act which provides for the use of minimum force in order to maintain order in a correctional centre.

The statement stated that a group of 14 inmates that occupied one of the blocks (D8) in the correctional centre initiated a riot within their cell where the inmates believed to be members of the 28 gang attacked their fellow inmates who were not affiliated to any of the prohibited prison gangs. It was further revealed by the statement that investigations revealed that upon noticing that all other cells had been locked, the inmates attacked each other inside their cell with full knowledge that it would take some time for officers to open their dormitories as there are procedures which needs to be followed before a cell can be opened, especially after hours.

The statement added that patrolling officers tried to calm the commotion but they were unsuccessful while some inmates were already lying on the floor, bleeding profusely as the perpetrators had broken some of the water taps in their bathrooms and used them as weapons. “The cell was thereby opened and officers and rescued the seriously injured non-affiliated inmate who had been encircled by the angry inmates,” the statement reads.

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