Times Of Swaziland: 7 GUNMEN ROB BUSINESSMAN OF E120 000 AT HOME

7 GUNMEN ROB BUSINESSMAN OF E120 000 AT HOME
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Nhlanganiso Mkhonta on 26/05/2023 10:00:00


MBABANE – A 70-year-old well-known Mbabane businessman was in the wee hours of
Wednesday robbed of E120 000 in cash, while at his place of abode.
The incident reportedly happened at Dalriach East, Mbabane at about 1:10am, when
seven armed men attacked the businessman at his home. It was reported that the
men were armed with handguns. Dalriach East is situated near Eveni and
Thembelihle. Apart from the cash, the gunmen further robbed the businessman of
various items amounting to E10 000, making the total value of the cash and items
E130 000. The name of the businessman, who is in the construction industry, is
known to this publication, but has been withheld pending police investigation.
Confirmed
Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile
Vilakati confirmed the incident, stating that police were still
investigating.Superintendent Vilakati said so far, no one had been arrested.
Over the past months, there has been a number of armed robberies, especially
along the Mbabane-Ezulwini corridor, where businesspeople were targeted.
However, police made a breakthrough in these cases as there have been arrests
reported.
A week ago, the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) issued a wanted person
notice requesting members of the public to assist in locating one Nonhlanhla
Nontsikelelo Manana of Ngonini in Ezulwini, who is wanted for a string of armed
robberies committed around Goje and Mantenga, in Ezulwini. Vilakati told this
publication yesterday that Manana was still at large and police were looking for
her. She urged the public to assist in locating her. In a live video posted on
Tuesday on the REPS official Facebook page, Vilakati lauded the public for
assistance in locating suspects. She mentioned that through the public’s
assistance, police had been able to make a number of arrests, which included the
arrest of two suspects, who were allegedly involved in a string of armed
robberies.
Suspects
She mentioned that the two suspects were arrested on Monday while in Matsapha.
She highlighted that the duo was allegedly involved in a string of armed
robberies committed in the Hhohho Region. Vilakati said the duo would often
attack homesteads and robbed members of the public of their properties, which
included cash, dagga, amongst other things. The police spokesperson noted that
the suspects were further linked to a series of crimes around Pigg’s Peak,
which included the robbery at the residence of Acting Pigg’s Peak Mayor,
Counsellor Absalom Ndlovu.
This is where they allegedly stole nine of his guns, comprising pistols and pump
action rifles. On Wednesday, the duo appeared in court facing multiple charges
related to robbery and theft of items valued at about E1.4 million. Boy Boy
Mayibongwe Mlotsa (28) of Nginamadvolo and Siyabonga ‘Ganja’ Mpanza (30) of
Nsangwini were charged with 14 counts, which include armed robbery, theft and
illegal possession of a firearm.