TSITSIBALA COLLAPSES, DIES, REPS, FAMILY DISTRAUGHT

MBABANE – He was a man everybody loved to hate, at the helm of the police service during an unprecedented political unrest and he is no more.

National Commissioner (NATCOM) of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) William Tsitsibala Dlamini collapsed and died yesterday morning at OR Tambo International Airport in the Republic of South Africa (SA). Details around his death were scanty, except that he collapsed on arrival at the airport and was certified dead after inspection by medical practitioners.
There were mixed reactions on social media as news of his untimely demise started seeping in at about 6:30am yesterday. While others recollected some of the unpopular decisions the late Dlamini had to make during the political unrest, others sent condolences to his family and reminisced on the good deeds he did while leading the police service. Dlamini, who was popular for making bold statements during the political unrest, was coming back home from a high-level police meeting with other African cop leaders in Angola.

deserted

When the Times SUNDAY team arrived at his official residence in Sidwashini South at 9:10am yesterday, the place looked deserted and there was no one to open the gate. There was no security in sight and several attempts to call for assistance did not receive any attention. At his homestead in Mpolonjeni Mbabane, which he shared with his wife Doreen, gates were closed and a close relative informed the team that senior police officers were locked up in a meeting with some of the family members. About four cars were parked outside, while a peep through the gate showed an extra three cars within the premises.

compound

The team waited outside the compound from 9:30am until 11:30am, when senior officer Wendy Hleta came out accompanied by another unidentified female officer to inform the team that an official comment could only be sought from senior family members at Mahlangatsha, in the outskirts of Mankayane, where Dlamini’s paternal home was. Hleta said there were only children inside the house and the wife was not in a position to speak to the media.

shocked

However, Deputy Commissioner Lydia Dlamini confirmed Dlamini’s death in a statement issued later on the day and said they were shattered as the REPS. She said they were not in a position to divulge much details but were shocked at the sudden death of their leader. “It is with deep sorrow that the Royal Eswatini Police Service announces the sudden passing on of the national commissioner. Dlamini passed away instantly, while at the Oliver Tambo International Airport en route to Eswatini from an INTERPOL meeting in Angola yesterday morning. We are at a loss for words about this tragedy which has befallen us. Losing our leader so untimely is a traumatic experience for all of us and we can only look to God to comfort and help us at this difficult time. We pass our sincere and heartfelt condolences to Their Majesties, His Majesty’s Government, the Dlamini family and relatives, as well as the nation at large. We also pass commiserations to all members of the police service who, as already stated, are affected by this loss,” said the deputy commissioner.

mourners

At the late Dlamini’s parental home in Mahlangatsha, some family members started arriving as early as 7am and when the Times SUNDAY team arrived in the afternoon, close relatives were already receiving mourners inside one of the houses. Dlamini’s younger brother, Hezekiah, said they were shocked by his brother’s death because he did not show any signs of sickness when they saw him before he left for Angola. He said the family was not aware of any ailment or health condition that might have caused his sudden death. “As you can see, we are shattered as a family. He was a pillar in this family, only God can sustain us now. We do not have details since his wife is still in Mbabane clearing up things. We will wait for her and only then can we comment. We were with him last weekend before he left for Angola and we still can’t believe that he is gone,” he said. He further revealed that his brother had just traditionally wedded his wife a month ago. He said the family was still consulting with the relevant authorities for guidance on the funeral arrangements.

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