2 EMASWATI KILLED IN SA OVER ‘INOMBOLO’

MBABANE – Two men from Eswatini were killed at Harterbeeskorp, Ermelo, in the Republic of South Africa in a gang-related conflict.

It has been five months since the two men were killed, but their bodies have still not been claimed in a South African mortuary. Impeccable sources disclosed that both men were stabbed to death by their former prison mates as they were once incarcerated in a South African jail. According to the sources, the quarrel that resulted in the stabbing and subsequent death of Simanga ‘Slender’ Maseko and Sakhile Malinga was over the matter of who is superior between two gang members - the 26s and the 28s (locally known as ‘inombolo’).

Maseko was the one who was murdered first and was then reportedly dragged by his killers and dumped in a dam at Hartebeeskorp. “Police later came and retrieved the body from the dam and placed it on the pavement where I was able to take a picture. My wish is for his relatives to be able to locate him; unfortunately, his physical appearance could not be captured because the body was covered with a blanket,” said Mbali Dlamini. The other victim, Malinga, who was said to have been a close friend with Maseko, was reportedly killed on his way to Eswatini to report his friend’s death to his family in Mbabane.

According to Dlamini, Malinga was escorted by his employers to Amsterdam towards Eswatini; however, the South African Police Service (SAPS) officers have confirmed that he was murdered on his way, days later. “An African male, dark in complexion, normal in body size, height and age is estimated between 30 and 40 years, was found dead in Bevediel location in Mpumalanga province, South Africa.

Investigations

“According to the information as per investigations, he is only known as Sakhile Malinga of Mankayane in the Kingdom of Eswatini. Anyone who knows the deceased or who knows the relatives can contact Detective Sergeant Mayaba of Harterbeeskorp Police station.  Those with information can contact him on 0715215344 or office number 0178821000,” said Detective Mayaba. The detective also disclosed that two suspects were arrested following the murder of the two emaSwati. However, he said one of the suspects died a month ago, while out on bail. “Two African males were arrested, however, one died while out on bail and the other is still behind bars in connection to the murders of Maseko and Malinga.

Wars

According to the sources, the two emaSwati were once arrested and that is when they joined the prison gangs called the 26s and the 28s. A study reveals that the 26s are those responsible for gambling, smuggling and accruing wealth in general. The 28s are the warriors and responsible for fighting on behalf of all three groups, and the 27s are the guardians of gang law and the peace keepers between all the gangs. New rules and a strict code of conduct were drawn up. Worth noting is that common numbers used include 5, 13, 14, and 74. Numbers may represent letters of the alphabet (b=2, c=3).  Local sets may use their area code to communicate their home. Gang members then tattoo these symbols and numbers, or even the name of their gang.

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