Swazi Observer

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MURDER SUSPECT GETS BED IN PRISON

By Sandile Nkambule | 2018-07-19

“My Lord I almost died yesterday as the cold and conditions at the Sidvwashini Correctional facility are not conducive for me”.

These were the words of murder suspect Bhekwako Dlamini that prompted Justice Sipho Nkosi to order correctional services officers to make sure that the 76-year-old does not sleep on the floor.

The judge said he must be provided with a bed.

This, after the KaLuhleko assassination case was once again postponed to a later date after Dlamini’s lawyer Sifiso Jele was reported indisposed and could not make an appearance for his client.

The old man, who has been in custody since his arrest, registered his fears that he might die at the correctional facility as he almost passed away on Tuesday night due to the cold and the living conditions at the Sidvwashini Correctional facility.

Dlamini, who was visibly disappointed that the matter could not proceed, told the court that he suspects the delays and postponements were deliberately made, adding that he was not pleased at all.

Charged together with Mxolisi Mabuza for the murder of KaLuhleko inner council member Camber Dlamini, Bhekwako wondered why the next witness, KaZondwako chief, is being called to give evidence in the matter.

However, Judge Nkosi informed him that he should understand that his (Bhekwako) legal representative is sick and that the matter has not been deliberately delayed as everyone was ready to proceed yesterday.

“I know you have been in custody for a long time, however, we want to make sure that the matter is finalised as you have to know whether you will be acquitted of the charge or you will do time in jail and come out of prison dead. The Correctional Services will make sure that you do not sleep on the floor but on a bed,” Judge Nkosi told Bhekwako.

Justice Nkosi told the Correctional head of escorts who was present in court that if it needs be, he can even order the Commissioner General Mzuthini Ntshangase to issue the order to his charges to make sure that Bhekwako does not sleep on the floor but on a bed.

Under normal circumstances, suspects who are awaiting trial while on remand and those on trial are kept at the remand centre and are not provided with a bed but sleep on the floor as they are only given blankets and mats.

Only convicted persons are provided beds as they sleep on bunk beds at the country’s Correctional facilities.

Judge Nkosi then postponed the matter to next Wednesday with the hope that lawyer Jele would be available.

All the crown’s witnesses have testified and the case had already been closed when two more witnesses were called by the court and Khanya Dlamini was the first witness who gave damning evidence against both Bhekwako and his co- accused Mxolisi.

Khanya, in his evidence, told the court that the chief, her mother and five members of the inner council were to be assassinated.

The six targeted persons, including Chief Zulelihle and Inkhosikati LaMakhungu, survived the carefully orchestrated plot to assassinate them, while one of the inner council members, Camber, could not make it as he was shot and killed in cold blood at his homestead.

In a tell-it-all scenario while under oath in the witness box, Khanya, during the trial, related how he together with Bhekwako Dlamini (first accused) Mndeni Kunene (second accused) and Mxolisi Mabuza, who is the third accused, killed Camber.

Khanya told Judge Nkosi that he, together with Mabuza and Mndzebele, were approached by the first accused (Bhekwako) who informed them that he wanted to end the lives of some people who were enemies to him.

Khanya said the first accused gave them the hit list which included Chief Zulelihle, Inkhosikati LaMakhungu, the deceased Camber, Silence Simelane, Zachariah Maseko and Aaron Maseko.

Khanya told the court that first in the hit list was the deceased Camber and he narrated much to the shock of those in attendance how Bhekwako carefully arranged the plot to have him killed.

He said the old man offered them a silver pistol with 13 live rounds of ammunition and told them to proceed to the deceased’s homestead and gun him down.

Given the responsibility to pull the trigger was Mxolisi. After being promised that they would be paid E5 000 plus a cow each, they proceeded to the deceased’s homestead.

“Upon arrival at Camber Dlamini’s homestead, we approached the main door and knocked. Before Dlamini even answered the knock, Mxolisi wasted no time and shot at the deceased five times with three shots hitting the target while the two missed,” Khanya stated.

Khanya further told the court that after Camber had been killed, Mndeni, who had been carrying a note with information on it, dropped it, within the deceased’s yard and the note was framing a Malkerns resident as responsible for the incident.

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