KILLED SWALIMO MAN, SHOOTER HAD LONG-STANDING FEUD

MBABANE – It has been gathered that the two emaSwati who died in Durban, South Africa, had a long-standing feud and a mediator had been approached to assist in mending the relationship.

On Tuesday, a SWALIMO member was shot dead in Durban by another liSwati. The Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO) member was allegedly shot dead by his fellow countryman, who later shot himself. The 29-year-old man is said to have died on the spot. The name of the SWALIMO member is known to this publication but will not be revealed as efforts to reach his family were unsuccessful by the time of compiling this report. It could only be established that he was from Mpolonjeni in the Lubombo Region.

Information

Sidney Maseko, the Coordinator of the SWALIMO KwaZulu-Natal Branch, South Africa, stated that as of yesterday, they were still gathering more information on the matter. He said so far, the reason for the argument was still unknown. When asked about the rumours that the two might have had an argument over political issues, Maseko said he did not know of such, and further stated that it was unlikely that the two could have had that kind of argument and both ended up dying. Maseko said according to other emaSwati, who were close to the deceased individuals, the fight between the two was as a result of a long-standing dispute, which he did not know about as well. He, however, said this seemed to be a very serious dispute such that even a mediator had been involved in a bid to resolve it. The two emaSwati men were residing in Durban, though it could not be established if they stayed in the same compound. Maseko said on the day of the shooting, the two were due to meet the mediator at a certain place.

Mediator

He said while waiting for the mediator, the duo had an argument and later, the other man stood up and went outside the house where they were meeting and later returned wielding a gun and shot the SWALIMO member. It was established that there were other people in the house, who were left shocked by the whole incident. Maseko said information he obtained was that upon realising that he had shot the SWALIMO member, the other man left and a few minutes later, those who were around heard another gunshot. He said when they went to investigate, they realised that the man had shot himself as well. The KZN Branch coordinator said as a movement, they were still trying to track down the next of kin of their member. He said so far, they only knew that the member was originally from Mpolonjeni in Siteki, in the Lubombo Region.

He said so far, it was difficult to get more details about their deceased member as in the movement they did not ask personal details of members when they registered. He said they respected their members’ privacy. Maseko further said they were devastated by the loss of this particular member as he was active in the struggle. On the other hand, SWALIMO Spokesperson Thantaza Silolo said they were also trying to locate the deceased’s family at Mpolonjeni as they would like to go and pass their condolences to his family as a movement.

Difficult

He said it was quite difficult to locate his family as he was staying in South Africa. He said sometimes they were not privy to personal details of their members as they often did not ask for such when they registered. Other SWALIMO members lamented that they had lost a great member who was very active. They said he was always available when needed. The Durban branch met with their President Mduduzi ‘Gawuzela’ Simelane in April 2022, for the first time since the formation of the movement. This was during the movement’s long strategic retreat defined as a ‘game changer’ in the liberation struggle.  

Confirmed

Meanwhile, the South African Police Service (SAPS) confirmed the incident yesterday. In an interview with this publication, Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo of the SAPS Corporate Communications Department, confirmed the matter. Ngcobo stated that it was reported to them that the two men had an argument before the shooting. She said they got a report that the two were friends. The constable said the man who shot the other was rushed to hospital after he shot himself in the head, a few minutes after realising that his friend had died. “Yesterday at 9am, Sydenham police were called to a local hospital. On arrival, they were shown a body of an unknown man with a gunshot wound on the head. He was declared dead on arrival. Later the man was identified as *Leon from Kennedy Road informal settlement. “A case of inquest was opened at Sydenham SAPS for investigation,” she said.

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