Swazi Observer

FULL STORY

SNUS PRESIDENT HOSPITALIZED AFTER ASSAULT

By KWANELE SIBIYA | 2022-05-19

THE President of Swaziland National Union of Students (SNUS) Colani Maseko is in a critical condition after he was allegedly assaulted by members of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF).

This incident is said to have happened in the early hours of yesterday morning at the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) Kwaluseni campus.
This was confirmed by SNUS Deputy President Philile Mavuso yesterday.

According to Mavuso, Maseko was allegedly assaulted by members of the EUDF while offering moral support to UNESWA students who were protesting over, amongst other things, unpaid allowances, the administration’s refusal to postpone the examinations as well as the deteriorating security measures at the university.

Narrating the sequence, Mavuso said Maseko was recording a live video for the union’s Facebook page when he was summoned by a group of police officers to board their kombi.
She alleged that unfortunately, before boarding the police kombi, Maseko realised that he had forgotten his cellphone which he was using to record the live video and asked the permission from the police to go back and fetch it.

Mavuso further alleged that on his way to fetch the cellphone, Maseko was met by a contingent of EUDF members who heavily assaulted him and further instructed him to roll several times on the ground.

She alleged that while assaulting him, the soldiers probed Maseko on why he was recording the video.
“After assaulting Maseko, the UEDF members then ordered him to board one of their trucks and drove towards a river,” Mavuso alleged.

She alleged that after bashing the SNUS president, the members of EUDF then ferried him to the Matsapha Police Station where they dumped him.
Mavuso alleged that what saddened them the most was that upon arrival at the Matsapha Police Station, the police informed political parties present there that Maseko was being interrogated.

She said they were rather disappointed by the conduct of the police as Maseko was in a critical condition and he needed immediate medical attention.
Mavuso said after negotiating with the police, they finally released Maseko and they rushed him to Mkhiwa Clinic, where he is currently being attended to.

She alleged that Maseko spent close to 30 minutes at the police station, before the being released
UEDF Public Relations Officer Lieutenant Tengetile Khumalo when reached for comment said her office was not in a position to respond to matter, owing to the fact that the Operations Officer in charge had not given an account to the Office of the UEDF Public Affairs the day's detailed report.

“It would therefore, be folly on my part to respond before formal reports on the operation have been made,” she said.

share story