Times Of Swaziland: BHANTSHANA ARRESTED

BHANTSHANA ARRESTED
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BY MBONGISENI NDZIMANDZE on 21/01/2014 04:42:00


MBABANE – Bhantshana Gwebu, the Chief Government Vehicle Inspector has been
arrested. Gwebu was arrested and charged by the Mbabane police yesterday morning
after he was surrendered by his lawyer Machawe Sithole from Dunseith Attorneys.
Gwebu has been charged with contempt of court after he arrested and charged a
driver of High Court Judge Esther Ota.
The Chief Justice on Saturday issued a warrant for his arrest after he arrested
and charged the driver, Vusi Tsela, next to Sifundzani Primary School on
Saturday.
Judge Ota was present when Gwebu arrested and charged Tsela for the alleged
abuse of the government vehicle.
The chief government vehicle inspector yesterday appeared before Chief Justice
Michael Ramodibedi who remanded him in custody until Monday.
This means that Gwebu will spend the next seven days at Sidwashini Correctional
facility pending the hearing of his matter.
The matter was heard inside the chambers of the Chief Justice and present were
High Court Registrar Mpendulo Simelane, Mbabane Police Station Desk Officer
Mkhuzeni Kunene and Thabo Dlamini from the chambers of the Attorney General.
Dlamini (Thabo) asked that the matter to be stood down for 30 minutes so that he
could prepare a charge sheet but the Chief Justice ordered that Gwebu be
remanded in custody until Monday. Tsela had taken the judge to Sifundzani
primary where she had gone to buy school uniform for her children.
The driver and Judge Ota were travelling in a Mitsubishi Lancer registered GSD
028 JU when Gwebu pounced on them.
The driver was slapped with two charges; using a government vehicle for any
purpose other than that authorised without a written authority of a proper
officer and that of allegedly using a government vehicle on a weekend
(Saturday).
Gwebu said he found the government vehicle parked outside Sifundzani Primary
School on Saturday.
He said he then charged the driver but the judge allegedly tried to explain to
him that she had come to the school to buy uniform for her children.
Registrar of the High Court Simelane said the judge was en route to work.
Arrest will not stop me – Bhantshana
MBABANE – Bhantshana Gwebu says he will continue executing his duties without
fear or favour.
He said his arrest would not deter him from arresting and charging civil
servants who abuse government vehicles.
He made this comment after his appearance before the Chief Justice who yesterday
remanded him in custody until Monday.
The chief government vehicle inspector is facing a charge of contempt of court
after he arrested and charged a driver of a High Court judge on Saturday.
“I will only stop arresting and charging those who abuse government vehicles
once I retire from the civil service.  I have been lampooned but I will not be
stopped from executing my duties and serving my employer,” he said.
Gwebu said he was still asking himself many questions as he does not understand
why he was arrested. He said he arrested the driver after having satisfied
himself that he had flouted the laws governing the usage of government vehicles.
“My incarceration does not mean I will stop doing what I was employed for. I
am not shaken; I will stand my ground as I acted within the scope and conduct of
my duties. I did not arrest the judge but her driver,” he said.
Lawyer to file urgent bail application
MBABANE – The lawyer representing Bhatshana Gwebu will be filing an urgent
bail application today
Gwebu is represented by Machawe Sithole from Dunseith Attorneys in Mbabane.
Gwebu’s lawyer is seeking an order that his client be released from custody
pending the hearing and determination of his case on Monday.
The chief government vehicle inspector is facing a charge of contempt of court.
He appeared before Chief Justice Michael Ramodibedi yesterday who remanded him
in custody until Monday. Sithole confirmed that he was contemplating filing an
application for bail pending the hearing of the matter on Monday.