JUSTICE MINISTER VISITS DAVID SIMELANE, ‘COMMANDER’ THABO KUNENE

MATSAPHA - In what could be termed as a rare occurrence, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Prince Simelane visited inmates in Matsapha Maximum Prison’s condemned prisoners’ cells.

The inmates are; David Simelane, who was convicted and sentenced to death by hanging, Solidarity Forces alleged Commander Thabo Kunene and his co-accused Sibusiso Nkomonye, who are facing 43 charges of allegedly contravening the Suppression of Terrorism Act, which include murder. The minister met and greeted them yesterday when he was touring Matsapha Correctional Services Facility.

The trio are locked up in different cells in a structure for condemned prisoners, which was ideally built for convicts who have been sentenced to death by handing or life sentence. According to Matsapha Correctional Services Facility’s Officer in Charge Assistant Commissioner Jabulani Kunene, the two terrorism and murder suspects (Kunene and Nkomonye) were put in the cells for condemned prisoners because their structure (for terrorism suspects) was already full. He said it was public knowledge that members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) have arrested a number of people in connection with terrorism cases.

Thereafter, the officer in charge led the minister to the cells of the trio and started with the convicted serial killer. He told him that he was happy to finally meet him because he had been longing to see him. “My brother, sonkhe sitokele ngephandle (we are all prone to mistakes). I was glad to hear that you have accepted Christ to be your saviour because he forgives all sins,” the minister said.

He also verified, through asking the convict if indeed he had accepted Christ and he responded to the positive. Thereafter, the minister proceeded to the purported commander of the Solidarity Forces and he told Kunene that it was good to see him. He told him that he was there to check on his welfare while under the HMCS custody.  “I can see that the department is taking care of you. We protect human rights and since the whole world is watching, I will compile a report and send it to relevant structures about my visit here (Matsapha Correctional Services Facility),” the minister said to the alleged commander of Solidarity Forces.  

The minister also asked the alleged commander of Solidarity Forces if he could confirm that the department was taking care of him and he responded to the positive by nodding his head. After that, the minister went to greet the alleged commander of the Solidarity Forces’ co-accused Sibusiso Nkomonye in his cell. He said; “Kunjani ntsangayetfu (how are you my age mate?” In a polite manner, he said he was doing well. The minister then told him that he missed the weeding of the King’s field (Imfabantfu). However, he said he hope he would be available to partake next year.

On another note, the officer in charge explained that out of the 1 008 inmates they have in the correctional services facility, 175 of them were at the maximum prison. He said this facility was for people who are linked to serious criminal activities like terrorism and murder, among others. He said it also accommodates convicts who were serving between 20 and 200 years, life sentence and/or death sentence – which was however, scrapped out.

However, he said once they have 10 years or less remaining in their sentences, they get transferred to the general correctional services facility. He added that inmates who were kept at the maximum prison were allowed to make calls, but they were monitored. On top of that, he said those facing serious criminal cases were closely monitored such that all their movements were recorded, even if they go to the shop.

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