BANKER ARRESTED FOR WIFE’S ATTEMPTED MURDER

MBABANE - A banker has been arrested for allegedly trying to kill his wife by stabbing her with a knife in the stomach.

Senzo Sizwe Mhlanga, who is employed by one of the reputable banks in the country, is said to have also assaulted his wife, Philile Ndlangamandla, with a spanner on the head. Mhlanga now stands accused of attempted murder, an offence he is alleged to have committed on March 24, 2024 along Malangwane Hill. The wife is also employed in one of the banking institutions.  Mhlanga has since moved an urgent bail application at the High Court, where he claimed that his wife was the aggressor and was allegedly the one who attempted to kill him with a knife while inside a car along Malangwane Hill.

The accused told the court that he and the complainant were married in terms of civil rites. Mhlanga mentioned that for a period of two years, they had separated and his wife moved out of their matrimonial home. According to Mhlanga, throughout their separation, they maintained a very cordial relationship. He claimed that he made several attempts to make amends in their marriage, including arranging counselling sessions and family meetings. He alleged that his wife was, however, non-committal and this resulted in him proceeding to institute divorce proceedings. Mhlanga submitted that the divorce summons was vigorously opposed by his wife and this resulted in him abandoning the action.

Asthma

He narrated to the court that on March 24, 2024, he suffered an asthma attack while at his place at Mpolonjeni and he asked for assistance from his wife.  According to the accused, his wife said he must drive to her place so she could accompany him to Ezulwini Private Hospital.  The accused alleged that he indeed proceeded to her place of abode and they agreed to drive in her motor vehicle. “Along the way to Ezulwini, we started arguing with the complainant her attitude is that she does not want me, but nobody should have me,” alleged Mhlanga.  He alleged that during the argument, he said some mean things to her, resulting in her grabbing the steering wheel while they were driving down Malangwane Hill. “We hit the wall of a house and I sustained injuries on my leg. In actual fact, my leg got broken. A fight then ensued and she took a knife from her car and tried to stab me,” submitted the accused.
Mhlanga alleged that they fought for the knife while inside the car, resulting in her getting stabbed. The complainant, according to Mhlanga, proceeded to hit him on the head with a wheel spanner until he managed to calm her down.  He said they were both taken to hospital where they were admitted.

Arrested

“Upon my release from hospital, I was arrested and charged with the offence I am currently facing. I submit that it will not be in the interest of justice to refuse me bail and allow my detention to continue,” he argued. In motivating his application for bail, Mhlanga further averred that there was no likelihood that if released on bail, he might endanger the safety of the public or any particular person. “Furthermore, I humbly submit that the matter is urgent by virtue of the fact that I am employed by one of the financial institutions in the Kingdom of Eswatini and I am expected to return to work,” he argued.

He brought it to the court’s attention that his continued incarceration might result in him losing his job, to his great prejudice and that of his dependants, which included two minor children. Mhlanga averred that there was no prejudice to be suffered by the Crown in the event he was released on bail as at this stage he was innocent and must be given the benefit of the doubt.  The bail application is being met with resistance from the Crown, which is still to file its papers outlining why it would not be in the interest of justice to release the accused on bail. The matter is before Judge John Magagula. The accused is represented by Noncedo Ndlangamandla of Ndlangamandla Mabila Attorneys.

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