Swazi Observer

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3 FAMILY MEMBERS KILLED IN SEPTIC TANK

By MELISA MSWELI | 2025-01-02

New Year celebrations at a Hlatshwako homestead ended in tragedy when three family members were killed after being trapped in a septic tank.

Simanga Hlatshwako (44), who owns an electricity company in South Africa, died while trying to rescue his son Owethu (16), who he had initially locked up in the sceptic tank as punishment for directing fireworks towards his younger brother when celebrating crossing over to 2025.

Simanga’s brother, Mbongeni (36), is said to have died while trying to rescue both father and son.

The sombre incident, which has left the community of Mbukwane under the Maseyisini Constituency shocked, happened in the early hours of yesterday morning as celebrations into the New Year continued.

According to a relative of the family, the incident happened after two children, Owethu and his younger brother (nine) lit fireworks celebrating entering the New Year.

As they were playing, Owethu is said to have directed the fireworks towards his brother who screamed, resulting in their mother rushing to investigate.

When she got there, she found Owethu chasing his brother around with the fireworks and immediately rushed to inform their father who was in the house.

“Simanga came running out of the house carrying a metal rod which he used to open the sceptic tank and then called Mlondi, who however ran away.

They chased one another around and Simanga eventually caught up with Owethu next to the septic tank and pushed him in,” revealed the relative, who further stated that Simanga who was visibly upset then poured petrol into the tank.

Simanga, according to the relative, then tried setting the tank alight with Owethu inside but was quickly stopped by other family members.

He is said to have walked away in a huff, leaving Owethu in the tank but returned after a short while, supposedly after having a guilty conscience as he opened the tank and tried retrieving Owethu.

The relative further revealed that Simanga despite several attempts failed to get Owethu, who by then showed signs of being very weak.

“In panic, Simanga then jumped into the tank and struggled for a few moments as he tried to lift Owethu out but could not as it was slippery, probably because of the petrol and chemicals.

Alarm
‘‘After a few moments, Simanga also became weak,” revealed the relative.
Seeing that the situation was getting worse, other family members are said to have raised the alarm, drawing the attention of other community members who rushed to assist in the rescue.

“However, every attempt failed even after ropes were lowered into the tank. Both Simanga and Owethu could not hold onto the ropes and that is when Mbongeni took of his clothes and also jumped into the tank,” said the relative. Mbongeni, according to the relative, made a few attempts to lift the two but was also unsuccessful as he failed to get a firm grip due to the tank being slippery.

After a short while, Mbongeni is also said to have lost his strength and the family called the police and fire and emergency Services personnel.

While waiting for the police, some community members are said to have continued and tried to urge the brothers to hold on to the ropes but they were unresponsive by then.

By then, the mood at the homestead and community was said to have turned from a celebration to one of sombre as news of what had happened quickly spread.

The relative said they suspected that the petrol must have reacted to the chemicals that had been poured into the tank the previous day.

Police and fire and emergency personnel, according to the relative, had to break the sceptic tank open to reach the three who by then showed no signs of life.

The bodies, when retrieved had chemical burns, according to the relative.
The tank, according to the relative, had been restored a day before the incident in preparation for a ritual ceremony that took place on December 31 where some family members imbibed in alcohol.

Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Senior Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed the incident.

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