COPS BELIEVE DUO MEMBERS OF SOLIDARITY FORCES

MBABANE – The police believe they have two members of an organisation calling itself Swaziland International Solidarity Forces in their custody.

These are Simanga Sigwili Vilakati (37) of KaNdinda and Thandokuhle Galimese Dlamini (39) of Ezulwini. The duo is facing a charge under the Suppression of Terrorism Act, 2008, as amended, as well as malicious injury to property, robbery and theft. Dlamini and Vilakati appeared at the High Court for the start of their trial before Judge Nkosinathi Maseko. They are represented by Maxwell Nkambule of Nkambule Attorneys, based in Siphofaneni. The matter was postponed to September 12, 2022, after the attorney representing the accused informed the court that they were not ready to proceed.

In the preamble of the amended indictment of the pair, the Crown stated that the accused persons were either members of the Swaziland International Solidarity Forces, ‘an entity that has one of its activities and purposes being the commission or the facilitation of the commission of terrorist acts’ or associated with it.

Activities

The Crown also alleged that Dlamini and Vilakati acted in furtherance of activities of the Swaziland International Solidarity Forces. According to the indictment: “Expressly or impliedly, (Dlamini and Vilakati) acted and or actively associated themselves, either individually or jointly, with Zweli Martin Dlamini and/or his so-called undercover movements, and/or its members in order to achieve the unlawful purpose/objectives/results expressed in his aforementioned statement.” The statement in question was issued by Zweli Martin Dlamini on February 2, 2022 and it forms part of the preamble to the charges.

The statement was addressed to ‘my fellow Swatis (emaSwati),’ whom he informed that as things stood, the country was allegedly preparing for a war when the public was made to believe that it was preparing for a dialogue’. It was also mentioned in the statement that those who supported the King ‘are few in numbers compared to us’. It further stated that for mediation to take place, there must be a fight. According to the statement, “on the upcoming protests, I was thinking that ..., I was having a discussion with one of the leaders of the underground movement and he informed me that they are busy fixing and monitoring a few things. I realised that they are indeed doing a great job. I won’t say much on this fellow Swatis (emaSwati). We cannot be experts on everything.

Plans

“We need to act from wherever we are fellow Swatis (emaSwati),.. You do not need to tell anyone of your plans, just leave home or wherever you are and go get the job done ... he situation must be dealt with accordingly. “If it means burning everything, let it be. Now, there should be less talking and more action…All we want is for our people to realise that if we must burn things for us to be heard in this country, we will do it. We are not playing…” The list of witnesses was not included in the indictment for security reasons.

Terrorism

Meanwhile, there was tight security as the two men accused of terrorism and arson appeared at the High Court for their trial. Armed police officers were deployed at strategic points outside and inside the High Court premises. The accused persons were escorted in four motor vehicles, full of armed officers. Meanwhile, the duo was in a relaxed mood during their appearance in court. Even though they were seated next to warders, they had some time to talk to their relatives who, however, remained at a distance. The warders were quick to warn the duo against talking to their relatives who were seated at the back. Worth noting was that the accused had to turn their heads in order to speak to their relatives.

Advocate Naomi Manaka, who has been hired by the State, was heavily guarded by plain-clothes police officers when she appeared at the High Court yesterday. The security personnel kept a close eye on the advocate when in and outside the courtroom. They also escorted her to her motor vehicle when she left the courtroom. The car transporting the advocate was escorted by two motor vehicles full of armed plain-clothes police officers when she left the court premises after the postponement of the matter.

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