By Sandile Nkambule | 2022-11-23

Mbabane - The three men arrested in connection with the murder of security officers in the country have been slapped with 29 counts.

They face seven charges of murder, one of attempted murder, four counts of kidnapping, eight counts of robbery and one of arson, among others.

The charges include the brutal killing of two traffic police officers from Manzini at Grand Valley, the kidnapping of Nyakatfo High School head teacher and the murder of a soldier who was shot at Mhlaleni.

The three Ncamiso Mabuyakhulu, Philani Sihlongonyane and German Robert Dlamini yesterday made their first remand appearance before High Court Judge Bongani Dlamini following their arrest last Saturday.

According to the indictment that was served to their legal representative, Maxwell Nkambule, the three were also charged with contravening the Suppression of Terrorism Act of 2008 in the main count.

This they are said to have done upon or about June 9, 2022 at or near Sigwe area in the Shiselweni region.

They are said to have acted individually or jointly in furtherance of a common purpose, unlawfully and intentionally used force and violence by pointing a firearm at Fanalakhe Ndzinisa and Zandile Ndzinisa and took from Fanalakhe a 9mm pistol with 12 rounds of ammunition.

It was further stated that the act was committed for political purposes with the intention to either intimidate a section of the public to wit, law enforcement officers or to bring about the overthrow of the lawful Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini.

On the second count, the accused were charged with contravening the Suppression of Terrorism Act in that at or near Sidvokodvo area in the Manzini region, each or all of them acting jointly in furtherance of a common purpose unlawfully and intentionally killed Mbongiseni Mthayi, an officer from His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS) - a crime that was committed for political purposes.

Alternatively, the three on this count, are guilty of murder in that they unlawfully and intentionally killed Mthayi.

The indictment submitted by the acting Director of Public Prosecutions, Lomvula Hlophe, further reflected that the accused have been charged with kidnapping in that on or about August 10, 2022 at or near Nyakatfo High School, they unlawfully and intentionally deprived Mlungisi Kunene of his liberty and further robbed him of his cellphone.

During their remand appearance, their lawyer indicated that they need medical attention after allegedly being tortured by the police.

It was also their application through their lawyer that they be remanded at His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS) facility by close of business today.

They were remanded into police custody until Tuesday for setting of their trial date.
The court also ordered that by the close of business today, they be remanded at an HMCS facility after having received medical attention.

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