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2 SHOT, MOB ATTACKS POLICE POST, BORDER CLOSED

20/12/2021 09:00:00 BY MELISA MSWELI

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NHLANGANO – Mahamba Border Gate had to close an hour early after a mob of about 50 people attacked the police post, resulting in the law enforcers and customs officials fleeing.

This chaos came about after a police officer shot at two people and the residents, together with some imbibers, went to launch an attack at the police post.
The incident happened on Friday around 9pm. According to an eyewitness, the incident happened after police officers had gone to close a bar which is close to the border but they were attacked by some of the imbibers.

In fact, it was said that what attracted the police to the bar was a fight between two people and they (law enforcers) had initially gone there to intervene.
It was said that while some of the officers were talking to the bar owner on the issue of closure as the bar was operating allegedly past its operating hours, the other police officer tried to intervene in the duo’s fight. It was said that while the police were talking to the bar owner who had turned off the music, some of the imbibers started complaining and charged towards the police officers who were making their way out of the bar to join the other officer who had been mediating between the fighting duo.

It was said that some attempted to get physical with the officer, which was when the law enforcer started firing warning shots. It was said that the imbibers continuously charged towards the police officer, which was when two of them were shot by the police. “After shooting the two, the people of the area got angry and a mob attacked the police post,” narrated the source. It was said that the angry mob vandalised the border gate entrance, a boomgate, a police vehicle and a guardhouse, among other things. It was said that the mob further charged towards the customs offices where they demanded the closure of the border gate, stating that no services would be offered until the police who shot at them was released to them.

By then, according to sources, most of the police officers had fled to the South African (sa) side of the border. In fear for their lives, it is said that the customs officers also fled to the SA side of the border, where they remained until police officers from Nhlangano Police Station arrived to calm the situation. It was established that about 15 travellers had to spend the night in between the SA and Eswatini side of the border as they could not get services at the Eswatini Immigration Department yet they had finished on the SA side.

In an interview with one of the immigration officers, he narrated that as soon as they were threatened by the mob, they went to the SA side of the border, leaving no one to attend to travellers. “Some came to ask if we would assist them and some suggested that we grab the stamp so they could be assisted but no one was keen to assist them,” narrated the immigration officer. He stated that they left for their respective houses after closure time and the travellers ended up not being assisted by anyone.

One Ntokozo, who was travelling with his family, narrated that they were among the people who suffered because of the attack. He said they were headed home for a funeral at Mbukwane but ended up missing the funeral. “We arrived there just when the confusion had started and we were assisted the following day upon the border opening,” he said. It was established that the two people who were shot are currently in hospital with one admitted to the Hlatikhulu Government Hospital and the other at Nhlangano Health Centre. When reached for comment, Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed the shooting. She stated that the victims both sustained gunshot injuries on their legs. She confirmed that the duo was attacking the police officers.

When probed on whether the mob behind the disturbance at the border was arrested, Vilakati said they were investigating the matter, adding that there was also property that got damaged during the attack. Since the June unrest in the country, there has been several instances where the country has been experiencing clashes between police officers and civilians. This has also led to police posts and houses belonging to law enforcers being torched. It was recently reported that gunmen held a police officer hostage while they threatened to burn down a police post at Ngonini.