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TURNED BACK AT SIDWASHINI, SENT TO MATSAPHA MAXIMUM PRISON

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MANZINI - The two incarcerated advocates for change MPs were turned back at Sidwashini Correctional facility on Tuesday evening, but admitted yesterday and later sent to Matsapha Maximum Prison.

The parliamentarians in question are Hosea Member of Parliament (MP) Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Ngwempisi MP Mthandeni Dube. After being turned back at the Sidwashini Correctional facility  on Tuesday evening, they were taken back to Mbabane Police Station where they spent the night. This was the third night which they spent in a police cell, following their arrest on Sunday. A source close to the matter claimed that the MPs were sent to Sidwashini Correctional facility by senior police officers from Mbabane Police Station on Tuesday evening, but when they arrived at the facility, they were turned back by senior officers of His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS).

Visitation

The source said he was not aware why the parliamentarians were turned back as they were not allowed to get inside since visitation of inmates was currently banned. However, HMCS Public Relations Officer (PRO) Senior Superintendent Gugulethu Dlamini, who confirmed that the two MPs were brought to the facility on Tuesday evening but later on turned back, said this was because the centre had stopped taking new admissions for that day. On the other hand, Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer Inspector Nosipho Mnguni said the MPs allegedly had some grievances when they arrived at the Correctional facility, thus they were taken back to Mbabane Police Station where their issues were discussed and addressed. She also confirmed that they (MPs) spent Tuesday night at the police station. “However, today (yesterday), they were transferred to Sidwashini Correctional facility and they were admitted,” the deputy police mouthpiece said.

Transferred

Later on yesterday, this publication gathered that at around 3:30pm, the two MPs were transferred from Sidwashini Correctional facility to Matsapha Maximum Prison, allegedly against their will. The source, who saw the MPs when being transported to the Maximum Prison, alleged that they were locked in a Correctional Services van together with armed police officers and they were escorted by HMCS cars and a kombi, which was loaded with police officers. The source, who claimed that they followed the convoy to Matsapha Maximum Prison, alleged that they were not allowed to see the MPs. Meanwhile, the HMCS PRO confirmed that the MPs were under their custody, but could not disclose the facility where they were kept because of security reasons.
Again, the PRO said the commissioner general’s office had the power to select a facility that was proper to keep certain suspects to ensure their safety as their core mandate was to ensure safe custody, without posing a threat to security. It is worth mentioning that during their appearance at the High Court on Monday, Judge Mumcy Dlamini remanded the two parliamentarians in custody until next Monday, August 2, 2021. However, they are set to appear for their bail application at the High of Court of Eswatini today at 2:30pm.

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