Swazi Observer

FULL STORY

E100 000 ‘STOLEN FROM ACCIDENT SCENE’

By MELISA MSWELI | 2024-12-30

The family of a man who was killed in a tragic accident have alleged that E100 000 that was in the man’s possession has gone missing.

They want answers, and have pointed the accusing finger to the police and those who arrived at the scene of the accident.

This follows an accident that happened on Christmas Eve at around 8pm at Nkumbane along the Mkhuhlwini/Mawelawela MR9 public road where over E100 000 was said to be carried by a soldier who was involved in an accident and later died.

As a result, the family of the soldier has opened a case with the police in search of the money that they believed Phinda Simelane (39) of Ebenezer had in his possession at the time of the accident.

Simelane is said to have knocked a Toyota Quantum driven by a 42-year-old man of Buseleni from behind.

He was driving a Nissan LDV. He sustained injuries in the neck and died while undergoing treatment at Hlatikulu Government Hospital. The driver of the Toyota Quantum was treated and discharged at the same health institution.

According to the deceased’s relative, Simelane was carrying a lot of bank cards and money amounting to over E100 000.

headed
It was said that he was headed to his workplace as he was based at Phocweni Army Barracks when the accident happened.

The deceased’s mother Sibongile Simelane said her son was a shylock. She said his siblings saw the money while he was at home.

The family is convinced that the money went missing at the accident scene.
Information sourced from reliable sources was that there was a caller who witnessed the accident and called the Hlatikulu police.

The police are said to have called paramedics.
The paramedics were said to have got to the scene and took both drivers to the Hlatikulu Government Hospital.

Police reportedly came after the paramedics had left to record their statements and inspect the crime scene.

It was said that in the car was a stack of bank cards from different banks believed to belong to those that owed Simelane.

scene
It is unclear who among the people who were at the scene took the money.
The family reported the missing money with the police. According to the deceased’s mother they were only given E9 000 by Hlatikulu Government Hospital nurses who they said was found in his pockets.

She said police told them that they only found bags that they took to the police station.
Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Senior Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed that the family reported the matter.

She said police were investigating and recording statements of everyone who came close to the scene.

Vilakati said police got to the scene after the drivers were taken to hospital.
“We are investigating the matter,” she said.

share story