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THE INTENTION WAS TO KILL HIM – MATSAPHA BUSINESSMAN’S FRIENDS

28/01/2024 16:37:00 Sifiso Dlamini

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MAHLANYA – “It is clear that the intention was to kill him not rob him.”

These allegations were shared by the late Matsapha businessman, Sifiso Simelane’s friends, during his funeral held at Mahlanya, under Lobamba Lomdzala Inkhundla yesterday. Simelane, a businessman of Bethany, who is survived by his four children, was robbed by unknown people before they slit his throat and dumped him in a forest at Mahlanya on Monday night. Close to a thousand mourners came to pay their last respects as the late businessman was laid in his final resting place at is parental home grave yard at around 07:40am. This followed a short prayer held at Dups Funeral Home in Manzini. Among the mourners were Simelane’s friends who are bikers. They shared their versions on how they viewed the incident. According to his friends, the manner in which the late businessman was murdered was allegedly an indication that the mission was to kill him and not to rob him.

suspects

They alleged that the robbery was a ploy adopted by the suspects to hide the fact that they were there to kill him. One of his friends alleged that the gruesome murder was an assassination, based on the fact that the suspects were in constant communication with Simelane for about a week. He said he was convinced that the murder was premeditated. “Based on the article published by the Times of Eswatini on Friday, some of the people who called him on the fateful day had been calling him for about a week, it is clear then that this had been planned for some time,” he said. Another friend mentioned that they suspected that some of the suspects were not from the country, as one of them was alleged to have been speaking Zulu.

Yet another of the late businessman’s friends alleged that the method in which the murder was committed by slitting his throat, was meant to send a clear message as he believed there were other means that could have been used by the suspects to commit the murder. “There are many means that the suspects could have used to kill him but slitting his throat was a clear message that this was intentional,” he said. It was also mentioned during the discussions that it was unlike the late businessman to address people he did not know, let alone at night, which was proof that he was familiar with the suspects as they had been in contact for some time.

argument

This argument was based on the fact that the Times of Eswatini previously reported that on the night of Simelane’s murder, the suspects made an arrangement that the deceased should meet them in Matsapha so that they could arrange where they could deliver the tyres for him, which were allegedly in a truck coming from South Africa. Simelane’s funeral began with a short prayer in Manzini followed by his burial. After the short prayer, Simelane was escorted by his biker friends who were accompanied by members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) to his final resting place.

Devastated family members, friends and relatives could not hold back their tears when his casket was lowered into the ground.Some of the speakers relayed how they were shocked by the gruesome murder, while some said Simelane was a humble man and a respected member of the community, who was always available to assist whenever needed. While making his address, a representative of the Simelane family thanked all those who supported them during the difficult time. He also thanked all who contributed towards the late businessman’s funeral. Another speaker, who was representing the late businessman’s mother’s family, said they were saddened and shocked by Simelane’s passing. She also prayed that the Simelane family found solace in God. “It is a sad moment indeed because we were here not so long ago to bury his late mother,” she said.

Another speaker said she hoped to find the late businessman in heaven as they raised him in a Christian way. “I hope that when he was in pain during the incident, he remembered God and we hope to see him in heaven one day,” she said. She also said as a family, they were there to support the late businessman’s surviving brother and sister and urged them not to hesitate to call them whenever they needed assistance. She said they did not have much, but the Word of God to comfort them. “We are only a phone call away,” she assured. Speaking on behalf of his friends, Banele Mtsetfwa, said as his friends, they were saddened by Simelane’s untimely passing. He, however, said they were happy to have shared good memories with him while he was alive. “We learnt a lot from him as he was a man of principles. He was kind but firm and he was a great man and friend, may his soul rest in peace,” he said.

He said the late businessman was an honest person and they would always remember him. Under Secretary in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Kakhosi Simelane, who was speaking on behalf of the late Simelane’s church, the Old Apostolic Church, thanked the church for the support they had shown to the family during the difficult time. He also thanked the late businessman’s friends for being there for the Simelane family and also thanked them for the contributions they made towards ensuring the funeral was a success. While sharing words of comfort, he assured the family that God was with them even during such trying times. “Please be assured that God is with you and know that as much as it is painful to bury your loved one, this is not the end but a gateway,” he said.

He also mentioned that the late businessman would be remembered and missed by all those he had touched in his life. Another speaker who spoke on behalf of Simelane’s siblings, thanked all those who supported them as a family throughout the ordeal. She also thanked the church for comforting and taking care of them. “This was unexpected and we are shocked and heartbroken by the manner in which our brother was taken away from us. We trust that God will comfort us during this difficult time,” she said. A speaker representing the chiefdom, relayed that as a community, they had lost a great deal by Simelane’s passing, as he was a leader and always there when needed. “He was a man we could always count on and come to for advice and assistance. Whenever we had a problem, he was there to support us financially and the only thing he asked was if we would do what we said we wanted to do and do it well. As Indlunkhulu we would like to pass our deepest condolences to his children, family and friends. May his soul rest in peace,” he said.He also urged the family members to take care of the late businessman’s children who have lost their father at a young age.