MAN ATTACKED BY UNKNOWN YOUTH

MBABANE – An elderly man stared death in the face after being viciously assaulted by a young man, allegedly for no apparent reason.

Last Saturday, Mfanyana Samuel Dlamini (65) was attacked while walking into his homestead, situated at kaKhamsile around Hlatikhulu in the Shiselweni Region.

Currently, Dlamini is on life support at the Mbabane Government Hospital.

Narrating the events leading to the incident that left the small community shocked, a relative of Dlamini who asked to remain  anonymous because he was not mandated to speak on behalf of the family, said it occurred around 4pm.

“Mkhulu was from visiting neighbours when he was confronted by the unknown young man. The boy is not from the area,” the family member said.

Without uttering any word, the relative said the young man just assaulted Dlamini.

He mentioned that the attacker assaulted the elderly man with a stone on the head until he fell to the ground.

“Once on the ground, the young man continued to assault mkhulu on the head and body until he was unconscious. There was blood everywhere. While all this was happening, some family members locked themselves inside the  house, out of fear. 

Afraid

“They were afraid to intervene because the boy was  very aggressive. I believe he stopped the assault when he realised that the elderly man was unresponsive,” the relative said.

He mentioned that those who went into hiding were female family members.

However, he was quick to state that the family members raised the alarm while inside the house.

After hearing screams, the youth of the area came to the rescue of Dlamini.

The impeccable source said the youth pounced on the young man and manhandled him before police were called.

In fact, the relative said the suspect was found at a neighbour’s homestead.

When the attacker was interrogated, the family member said the young man could not give a clear response why he had attacked the elderly man. “During the interrogation, it was learnt that he had also assaulted his uncle (his father’s brother).

“This incident occurred in their dagga fields while weeding. However, the bone of contention is unknown. After assaulting the uncle, he then walked away. That is when he came across the elderly man,” the relative alleged.

intoxicated

He said they suspected that the young man, who is estimated to be in his early 20s, was intoxicated. “We are worried that this person will claim to have been mentally challenged at the time of the incident. All we want is justice.”  

The relative said the police rushed Dlamini to Hlatikhulu Government Hospital. However, he has since been transferred to Mbabane Government Hospital.

Dlamini’s wife, Tfolwaphi Dla- mini (nee Mamba), who was found at his bedside, confirmed that her husband was injured while returning home from assisting at a neighbour’s homestead.

“He had gone there to assist with digging a grave as someone had passed away. He had left in the morning. I also followed him to lend a helping hand at the homestead,” she narrated.

Mamba said she had stayed behind when her husband left for home. 

“I was in the tent when I received a call from a relative instructing that I should rush home. The caller informed me that someone was killing my husband. 

“As a result of shock, instead of using an exit point, I crawled under the tent,” she recounted.

Mamba said she found a lot of people, including the area’s headman, gathered near her gate.

Describing the scenario, Mamba said there was a lot of blood on the ground.

“When I saw him sprawled on the ground, the first thing that came into mind was that he had been killed. He was frothing from the mouth and his face was covered in blood,” she narrated.

She mentioned that her husband was then rushed to hospital where they found the suspect’s uncle. “This where I learnt that he had hacked his uncle earlier while they were tending to their crops in the mountains,” she alleged. 

Asked if they knew the suspect, Mamba said it was the first time she saw him at the scene.

Quizzed about Dlamini’s condition, Mamba said he was still unable to speak or eat. “The doctors assured us that his brain was not affected. However, he is yet to go to theatre,” she said.

Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed that a man had been arrested and charged with assault.

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