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MLANDVO’S BURIAL: FAMILY ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE - REPS

26/01/2023 11:13:00 Stanley Khumalo

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MANZINI – The hurried burial of slain gunman Mlandvo Khumalo has been explained by the police, though his family remains tight-lipped.

Police claim that they had to assist and bury the killed gunman yesterday morning as his family said it needed their assistance. Khumalo was yesterday morning buried by his family in the presence of heavily armed police officers at the Ngwane Park Cemetery, which is located about five kilometres south of the Manzini Central Business District. The funeral was held five days after the initial date which had been announced. Initially, his funeral was scheduled for Saturday but had to be postponed as the police claimed there were ongoing investigations at the time.

Postponement

The police, following the postponement of the funeral, highlighted that there were some investigative processes which had not been completed, which fortunately, were deliberated upon with the family and led to the funeral being postponed. Subsequent to this, yesterday, the funeral was conducted under the heavy presence of fully-armed police officers. The news of Khumalo’s funeral started to circulate around 7:30am on social media. When this publication’s reporter arrived at the cemetery, police officers from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and Lukhozi were busy with preparations to bury Khumalo. The law enforcers were partitioned into groups as some of them were in strategic places, manning security. In fact, there were police cars at different intersections of streets which pass through the cemetery. On the other hand, at the cemetery, some of the officers who were manning security were seen carrying assault rifles and clad in bulletproof vests. Also, on sight, there were no undertakers; but police officers were engaging on the role for the day.

It was observed that some people, reportedly related to the deceased, were seen standing at a distance in a group and watching the proceedings. Near where there was activity, there were four vehicles. Three of the vehicles were unmarked white Isuzu double cabs, while the other vehicle was a marked bakkie from the Scenes of Crime Department, which is customised for loading bodies. Meanwhile, an effort by this publication to get closer to the burial site was thwarted as three police officers approached its vehicle. The officers led a male who was said to be a family member to the deceased and was tasked with identifying if the occupants of the vehicle were known to the family.

After reporting that they (Times of Eswatini crew) were not known to him, the three police officers were informed that the vehicle was travelling journalists and they reported that back to their senior, who said he did not care as no person was allowed at the area. Impeccable sources claimed that the service did not exceed two hours and an effort to get a comment from the family of the deceased proved futile as the sister, Nokuthula Sibiya, was contacted at about 2:45pm, but did not want to engage on the subject.

Terminated

After this reporter had introduced himself to Sibiya, she abruptly terminated the call and thereon when contacted again, her phone rang unanswered. Also, the father to the deceased acted in a similar manner. He was contacted immediately after engaging Sibiya. On the other hand, Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile claimed that the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) assisted the family following that it had faced challenges with the burial. Vilakati supposed that the family needed assistance and engaged them (police) after experiencing difficulties with burying Khumalo, as there was a challenge with those who had committed in assisting them with the burial. On the issue of the heavily armed officers manning roads leading to the cemetery and also where the burial was ongoing, Vilakati said her office did not respond to issues revolving around security.

Meanwhile, this publication last week reported that following complaints from stakeholders, the Executive Committee of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) Burial Services withdrew its E15 000 worth casket donation, which was extended to the Khumalo family for the funeral of Khumalo. In a statement, it was said the decision to withdraw the donation stemmed from several complaints from members of the organisation. The SNAT Burial Executive said since the announcement was made on the donation to the family, their office had been flooded by complaints and mumbling from their stakeholders. The executive committee said it had noted that the decision to donate the casket to the Khumalo family was not sitting well with a majority of their stakeholders, particularly the members, who were the owners of this business.

Review

“To that point, the executive committee of the burial services felt duty-bound to review its decision,” read the statement. Khumalo was shot dead on January 7, 2023, by security personnel after he purportedly shot a member of the King’s regiment, Fanafana Bhembe (57) at Mahlabatsini around Matsapha; a peri-urban settlement characterised by accommodation targeting low-income earners working in the two towns – Manzini and Matsapha - sandwiching it. It is also in close proximity to Phocweni Army Barracks and also Masundvwini High School. This followed an almost four-kilometre chase between the deceased and security personnel. He died while he had been listed as a most wanted individual by members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) as they had circulated a picture of him on their social media platforms, claiming that he was considered armed and dangerous.

According to sources, in December 2022, the deceased allegedly participated in an arson attack, where twin girls aged seven were killed. He was said to have been under investigation for delivering fatal gunshots to a pair of police officers at Mathangeni and Sigodvweni on different dates.

Investigated

Sources claimed that he was also being investigated for injuring a police officer through a gunshot while the law enforcer was attending to a traffic accident at New Villlage. He was also reportedly wanted by the police in connection with the shooting of a law enforcer around KaPhunga, who was rushed to hospital sometime last year. The sources purported that Khumalo was also fingered to have shot a warrior who was walking to his homestead after attending the recently ended Incwala Ceremony at Mbekelweni. Furthermore, the sources claimed that Khumalo was suspected to have been the one who shot at a REPS escort vehicle assigned to the Office of the Prime Minister, Cleopas Sipho Dlamini.