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TEACHER HELD FOR KNOCKING 2 DEAD, HIDING CORPSE

25/02/2020 01:16:00 BY KWANELE SIBIYA

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MANZINI - In a rather unusual incident, a teacher has been arrested for allegedly concealing a corpse after knocking down and killing two pedestrians.
This tragic accident occurred at Mabovini area situated under Mankayane Constituency in the Manzini Region, on Saturday at around 6:49pm.

Sibusiso Goodwill Dlamini, who is a teacher by profession and is stationed at Mkhondvo Primary School, appeared before Manzini Magistrate Simangele Mbatha yesterday charged with culpable homicide.

According to police statements, on the day the offence was committed, the two pedestrians, who eventually died from the accident, Joshua Nhlanhla Mayisela and Celemusa Themba Nxumalo, were from watching a football match between South Africa’s Kaizer Chiefs and Highlands Park at Sondelani Bar situated in Mankayane.

Statements

According to the statements, while the duo was walking home after watching the match, a VW Polo car which was allegedly driven by Dlamini, veered off the road and knocked down from behind both Mayisela and Nxumalo who were walking on the pavement along Mabovini area.

Mayisela is said to have died on the spot while Nxumalo sustained serious injuries, which he succumbed to when being treated by medical personnel after being rushed to hospital.

Upon realising that Mayisela was dead, the teacher is alleged to have dragged his corpse to a nearby ditch in a bid to conceal evidence.
Soon thereafter, it is alleged that the teacher rushed Nxumalo to Mankayane Government Hospital, where he allegedly averred that he found him lying helplessly next to a road after a motor vehicle knocked him down and sped off.

However, Nxumalo was later certified dead at the hospital.
The following day, attempts were made to locate Nxumalo’s relatives to inform them about his death.
They were eventually located and informed that one of their own succumbed to injuries following a hit-and-run accident. It was other patrons who were watching the football match with Nxumalo and Mayisela at Sondelani Bar who are said to have suspected foul play.

Their suspicion emanated from the fact that Nxumalo was in the company of Mayisela when they left the bar the previous day after watching the match, yet it was only Nxumalo who was rushed to hospital after being knocked down by the motor vehicle, while Mayisela on the other hand was nowhere to be found.
Due to their suspicion, the acquaintances are said to have reported the matter at Mankayane Police Station.

Questioning

The teacher was called in for questioning at the aforementioned police station and during interrogation, he allegedly denied knowledge of Mayisela’s whereabouts, citing that Nxumalo was alone when he located him next to the road after he was knocked down by a motor vehicle which later sped off.

Moreover, he also argued that he found Nxumalo next to a church known as Mankayane Anglican Episcopal Church (AEC), which is a distance from Mabovini where the accident occurred.

A search party is said to have been deployed to look for Mayisela and during the search, a certain bus conductor informed them that he spotted sandals adjacent to the road at Mabovini and he wondered who might have left them there.

The search party quickly rushed to the scene and upon arrival, Mayisela’s wife indentified the sandals as those of her husband. Upon searching further, they later discovered Mayisela’s body dumped in a nearby ditch and they reported the matter to the police.

The teacher was arrested in connection with the demise of both Mayisela and Nxumalo.
During his court appearance yesterday at the Manzini Magistrates Courts, Dlamini’s trial was postponed to Friday at Mankayane Circuit Court pending setting of a trial date.

The teacher moved a bail application through his attorney who pleaded with the court to grant him bail on condition that he was not a flight risk.
He also cited before court that Dlamini was a teacher by profession and his apprehension would result in him losing his job and jeopardising the future of the pupils who were under his care.

“Your Worship, my client did portray a high level of cooperation as he informed one of the deceased’s brother about the accident,” said the attorney.
He also pointed out in court that Dlamini also showed remorse for his actions as he surrendered himself to the police when he was called for questioning and that he had already visited both the deceased’s families and assured them that he would take care of the burial expenses of their loved ones.

Bail was not opposed as Dlamini was finally granted bail fixed at E5 000, on condition that he attends all court hearings whenever he is ordered to do so, and that he does not interfere with Crown witnesses while out on bail.

He was also cautioned to surrender all his documents including his passport and to make sure that he stays within the country while he is out on bail and that he has to report at Sidvokodvo Police Station every last Friday of every month beginning from the Friday on which he would pay bail.

Furthermore, Dlamini was warned not to be found having committed a similar offence while he is out on bail. The matter continues at Mankayane Circuit Court on February 28, 2020.