Home | News | LIVE ROUNDS USED, SOME PEOPLE KILLED - SENIOR COP ON UNREST

LIVE ROUNDS USED, SOME PEOPLE KILLED - SENIOR COP ON UNREST

04/05/2022 09:49:00 Kwanele Dlamini

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MBABANE – Police used live rounds of ammunition to quell the violence that erupted in riots during protests which were calling for political change last year.

This was admitted by Detective Assistant Superintendent Sibusiso Dlamini, who is the Shiselweni Regional Crime Branch Officer (RCBO). He was giving evidence yesterday during the trial of Hosea and Ngwempisi Members of Parliament (MPs), Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube. The MPs are accused of inciting members of the public to riot against government, among other offences.

During cross-examination, Dlamini was asked by Advocate Jacobus Van Vuuren, who represents the MPs, if the police used live rounds of ammunition to bring the situation under control during the protests, which he said were marred by acts of violence, and he responded to the positive. Some of the people in the public gallery asked one another if the detective assistant superintendent had indeed admitted to the use of live rounds of ammunition. “Did he say yes?” they asked among themselves. Dlamini also told the court that some people were killed in the Shiselweni Region during the riots. He said four people died in the region. Advocate Van Vuuren enquired from Dlamini if he was aware that the police fired at the people to quell the violence?

In response, Dlamini told the court that he believed it might have been police officers or other businesspeople, who were trying to protect their businesses, who shot at the protesters.
He further told the court that no one was prosecuted for those murders and when asked why, he stated that investigations were still ongoing. “Why does it take so long; it’s 11 months later now?” enquired Advocate Van Vuuren. Dlamini said there were many reasons for the non-conclusion of the investigations. He said some people were found in the morgue and their relatives came to the police station to file missing persons reports.

Investigations

According to Dlamini, after members of the public visited the mortuaries to identify their relatives’ bodies, ‘we started our investigations, and the most unfortunate part is that no one showed up after they had taken those who were injured to hospital, to report that their relatives had been injured, except for one who died next to his parental homestead’. He pointed out that the deaths remained unresolved to date. In his evidence-in-chief, Dlamini said he was aware that government had banned the delivery of petitions to tinkhundla centres on June 24, 2021. He said the ban was as a result of acts of violence witnessed during the delivery of the petitions. He submitted that after the ban, acts of violence were witnessed in various parts of the region (Shiselweni).

Advocate Gareth Leppan enquired from Dlamini if the ban was adhered to, and he said it was not. The reason for the non-adherence to the ban, according to Dlamini, was because MP Mabuza allegedly encouraged people to continue delivering petitions to their various tinkhundla centres despite the ban. He said the MP allegedly advised those who intended to deliver the petitions that it was their constitutional right to do so. MP Mabuza, according to Dlamini, issued a conflicting statement to that issued by the then Acting Prime Minister, Themba Masuku. He submitted that it was easy for the people to listen to MP Mabuza, because he was elected by the electorate to represent them in Parliament.

“The people were violent upon hearing his statement, even though he told them not to be violent,” said Dlamini. He submitted that on June 28, 2021, while in Nhlangano, he received a report that acts of violence were committed at Lawuba, Hlatikhulu, Nhlangano and other areas. He said he travelled to Lawuba with other officers. “While at Lawuba, along Sindzandlala Road, we encountered a group of toyi-toying people, who carried knobkerries and tree branches. We negotiated with their leaders to leave the road because they were disturbing motorists.”

He stated that they decided to remain at Lawuba to guard the then Acting Prime Minister, Themba Masuku’s homestead. “We left Lawuba around 8pm and returned to Nhlangano via Hlatikhulu. The town was engulfed in smoke, as shops were burning. We reinforced Hlatikhulu police to chase away looters. We proceeded to Nhlangano where we found the town on fire. The library was on fire, OBC Complex had been burnt, Shiselweni Regional Health Offices and vehicles were burnt. We knocked off at 3am.

Damage

“In my government allocated house, I found all the windows broken. At 4am I received reports from all Shiselweni Region Police stations, on damages and looting. I compiled a report and the damage was valued at E171 504 273 in the region” Dlamini narrated to the court. During cross-examination, Advocate Van Vuuren said Dlamini, in his report, on which he testified on yesterday, said he recalled that on June 29, 2021, at the headquarters, he received a report on acts of violence due to unrest and outlined vandalised properties and the damage caused. The report was dated October 12, 2021, and he admitted that he had compiled it. However, Advocate Van Vuuren enquired why he had not included what he had just testified to have been said by MP Mabuza, resulting in people allegedly defying the ban on the delivery of petitions.

Dlamini said, “I realised after I had written my police report that it is important to mention the June 24, 2021 events.” “I had already submitted my report when I realised that A1 (MP Mabuza) had made his statement.” This prompted Advocate Van Vuuren to enquire how long Dlamini had been a police officer, and he said 32 years. “You want to tell me that in the period you have been an officer, you still did not include what you say was said by A1 in your report? I find your answer to be nonsensical,” said Advocate Van Vuuren.
Dlamini said there was nothing he could do because he had already submitted the report.

The advocate told the witness that he should have included what he claimed was said by MP Mabuza when compiling the report. Dlamini said kwangishiya. Advocate Van Vuuren continued to say: “You see, somebody told you to come and give this type of evidence.” The police officer denied that. The advocate further asked Dlamini what the statement he alleged was issued by MP Mabuza, after the ban on the delivery of petitions, was. He said MP Mabuza, on the same day of the delivery of petitions was banned, allegedly encouraged the public to defy the ban.

“Did you watch this statement being made by A1?” asked Advocate Van Vuuren. Dlamini said: “Yes, on a Facebook page.” The advocate said MP Mabuza merely said people had a constitutional right to deliver petitions, not that they should go and deliver petitions. Dlamini concurred with the advocate. The matter continues today before Judge Mumcy Dlamini.