SABC 1’S UNTHINKABLE DOCUMENTARY LEAVES FACEBOOKERS OUTRAGED

MBABANE – Social media users reacted with outrage to the much talked about documentary titled ‘Unthinkable’ that relayed the stories of people who were allegedly shot by security personnel at the height of the political unrest in the country.

The documentary was aired on SABC 1’s Cutting Edge on Tuesday night. Facebook users expressed shock on the scenes that were aired. According to some of the users, it will be difficult for them to forget some of the scenes they witnessed. They blamed government for not being truthful about the brutality by law enforcers.
Government claimed that 35 people were killed during the unrest while various individuals and institutions on social media alleged that about 100 were killed.
The Times of Eswatini only managed to trace 39 relatives of people who claimed that they lost their loved ones, allegedly  at the hands of the security forces.
Those interviewed in the documentary relived the traumatic experience.

shooting

Some were relatives to those who passed on while others were victims of the shootings. The documentary was launched on Sunday on the Facebook page of Swaziland News by the Producer and Director, Comfort Ndzinisa, in collaboration with the Eswatini Solidarity Fund and it attracted a massive viewership of local and international citizens who took to social media commenting about the scenes of the political unrest that also claimed lives. The complete documentary can also be found on YouTube under the title; ‘The Unthinkable.’ SABC 1 also announced that part II would be played around the same time next week on Cutting Edge.

Survivors recounted their experiences on how they were allegedly shot by security personnel, while relatives of those who died also expressed their anguish over losing their loved ones under unclear circumstances. They also expressed their disappointment in government for the manner in which the situation was handled.
The documentary was introduced with protest and petition deliveries following the death of law student Thabani Nkomonye under unclear circumstances, resulting in government appointing Senior Magistrate Nonhlanhla Dlamini as Coroner to investigate circumstances leading to Nkomonye’s death.

scene

Scenes of shootings, allegedly  by the police were shown, while the protestors run in all directions. Another scene follows where protestors’ burn buildings and loot shops. An interview of Minister of Commence, Industry and Trade, Mancoba Khumalo, which he had with Newzroom Afrika, on whether the military took over the running of the country with an iron fist and (allegedly) killed people was part of the footage. The response the minister gave was that indeed there was nothing to hide as they had to involve the army. Thereafter, an elderly woman identified as Gogo Mavuso was interviewed and she narrates how she lost her grandson.

shocked

She stated that she was shocked when she received a call from her daughter at dawn, informing her that her grandson had passed away. “I cried helplessly,” the elderly woman said. Mavuso said the child was allegedly shot during the protests while he had been sent to run an errand. She said due to poverty, they struggled to bury the deceased and when they requested assistance from government, they were allegedly ignored.

A survivor whose identity was not revealed claimed that he was on his way to town as he had been sent by his mother to buy some items and along the way hooked up with friends and diverted to unwind at GV Centre. However, he said on their way out from GV, they met a crowd of people who had formed a barricade and were burning tyres. “While we were still watching what was happening, police arrived and they started shooting at us.” He stated that people ran in all directions, including himself, and in almost 10 seconds he was shot. He said he was latter assisted by a good Samaritan, who took him to hospital.  

Another female survivor working in a textile factory claimed she was going to work when the horrific encounter happened. She stated that she came across people who were running and she joined them. “We saw police shooting and there was no way I could just stand, which is why I also ran away.” She said while running, she heard the sound of a gunshot and did not think it was directed at her. “I felt my leg go numb and started bleeding but I continued to run.”

sought

The survivor added that as they were running, they sought shelter in another shop where the security let them in. She said she was overwhelmed and did not know what to do and started praying when another young man came along. The man realised that she was bleeding profusely and helped her by covering the wound. As the unexpected scene played out, she said some people were helping themselves in  a furniture shop nearby.  She stated that police forced them to carry the stolen beds that had been abandoned by the people who had run away when they realised that the police had arrived.

One of the youngest survivor is 10 years old. His guardians said that he was from school when he was shot. While all the survivors told their stories, it was noted that almost all of them did not state that they were part of the protest but were merely passing by. About one or two of the survivors acknowledged being part of the people who were protesting.  As some of the people told their stories, an interview with Minister of Information, Communication and Technology Princess Sikhanyiso was replayed in the background.

She was asked about the killings which were making international headlines and she responded that foreign mercenaries had invaded the country. The minister alleged that the mercenaries were hired by those people who were advocating for change.

harm

An interview of Government Spokesperson Sabelo Dlamini was played in which he said; “No order was issued to kill or harm citizens.” Dlamini said security forces were deployed to bring order, protect lives and critical national infrastructure after criminal elements went on a rampage to loot shops and burn public and private property worth hundreds of millions, including health facilities. He stated that if there were innocent bystanders caught up in the midst of attempts to bring order and save lives, it could have been an operational accident and not intentional. Dlamini added that government respected the right to life as enshrined in the Constitution and did not intentionally kill or harm citizens.

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