Albino (11) shot, beheaded

NHLANGANO – The death of an 11-year old Albino girl will forever be etched on the minds of her friends who watched haplessly after she was abducted, shot and beheaded on Wednesday afternoon on the banks of Siguduma River.

This is a communal river, at Ndiyaneni, where water for domestic purposes is drawn and where most women do their washing.

The latest incident comes hardly five months after another child, also an 11-year old Albino, was murdered and mutilated while in the company of a relative, a young boy, who managed to escape.

This incident happened at Nkunkhwini, which is also in the Shiselweni region but under a different constituency.

The child was with her friends when they set off to the river around 4pm when a man approached them and grabbed her. Her friends screamed for help but the women on site could not come to her rescue as the man was carrying a gun and threatened to shoot anyone who dared come close.

The man wore a black jacket, khaki trouser, sandals and had covered his face with a balaclava. He ordered the child to lie face down before firing a single shot into her back before carrying her lifeless body on his shoulder and running down the river. A search party set up discovered the headless body of the girl lying face down in sand not far from where she had been abducted. The child was a Grade Three pupil at Patmos Primary School and stayed at her father’s parental homestead, which is about 300 metres from the river.

According to Phumaphi Nxumalo, everything happened within a period of about 10 minutes.

"When she was grabbed we raised an alarm and people responded promptly but there was nothing anybody could do. A search party was conducted. We eventually found the body with the head missing," said Nxumalo.

"Officers from the Jericho police post were called to the scene," said Nxumalo adding that they were still shocked as everything happened in broad daylight and in front of many people including other children. There was a group of about 20 children, she said.

"We believe the child may have been followed and targeted," she said adding that they believed the killing may have been for ritual purposes.

She believes people from within the community may have been involved but these allegations could not be substantiated except that an unknown vehicle with South African registration had been earlier spotted in the area. The people inside the vehicle drove off when community members approached to find out if they could be of any assistance. This was on the same day the child was killed. The child’s grandmother, Alice Nxumalo, said her granddaughter did not deserve to die in such a manner and wished the suspects be arrested and answer for their evil beliefs. The teary old woman said she was confused and wondered how and why her grandchild out of all the people at the river became a target and killed in such a painful manner.

Hosea Member of Parliament (MP) Mduduzi Mabuza condemned the act and said it painted a bad picture of the constituency and the country.

MP Mabuza claimed he knew the child’s mother and they were friends.

Yesterday morning police officers from Shiselweni Lukhozi and other police stations were found at the scene conducting investigations.

At around 8am close to 30 mourners were also found at the homestead following the incident.

Police Deputy Public Relations Officer Superintendent Wendy Hleta confirmed the report and said anyone with information should contact the police and such calls will be treated with confidentiality.

People with information can dial 999/ 76086671/76062312 or the nearest police stations.

Anyone willing to help in burying the child can contact the Nhlangano Times Office at 207 7053/7632 6490 or 7625 0887.

Comments

What a painful death, to be hunted like an animal. My God why? These people kill a child, an innocent soul like a beast. Parents of such kids should make sure laba nftwana abe suki emehleni abo. This has happened in Tanzania maswati akitsi lets not allow any more of these barbaric acts take more souls. A call to the Country's Parliamentarians, lets have the strictest of laws to protect all our kids and women. Bo babe bo Chief we can win against this ritual murders lets expose such people. We can learn from Tanzanians for sure. These murders speaks volumes, Lone ndlebe akeve
Aug 20, 2010, 2:24 AM, Mmeli Dlamini (mmeli.dlamini@gmail.com)

Ya, all because we have a vacancy in Senate and one ministerial post, people are already slaughtering others!!! Saphela bo
Aug 20, 2010, 4:27 AM, Sikiza (tsikiza@gmail.com)

Police & the army should follow up this story & bring the perpetrators to justice. Parents please protect your albino children because clearly they are being targeted for ritual purposes.                                  Aug 20, 2010, 5:59 AM, lafelihle (lafa@gmail.com)

My most sincere & heartfelt condolences & sympathy to the family of the innocent child. It is my prayer that our God, the ruler of Heaven & earth, extends his hand to comfort this family & give them Heavenly courage & strength to go through this tumultuous period. To the senseless killers, society is better of without you. You will be apprehended & face the full might of the law. You have no regard for human life, why should yours be spared?
Aug 20, 2010, 7:23 AM, Nomakula Madida (nomakulamadida@yahoo.com)

Nakwenteka njena, le-NKEMBA yavalwelani? Ingani lamanye emave do have typical versions. Losontsile naye a kasontfwe. Seemingly, the Swazi communities are polluted - labanye bagubha emathuna, kusontfwa bantfwana, the elderly in pursuit of what? And why? My Swazi people let us forget these myths surrounding 'instant millionaires' and 'Albino's ........cures hiv'. Please can parliament review this issue. INKEMBA ayibuye!!
Aug 20, 2010, 7:40 AM, Anonymous (wdmd67@hotmail.com)

Parliament would do us a lot better if it introduced harsh laws. unfortunately, the people we entrusted with such think of themselves because they are the likely candidates for the punitive actions
Aug 20, 2010, 9:44 AM, anonymous

What a gruesome and heartbreaking story. How can a person in his/her senses sell that innocent soul? I only wish death sentence for the one who is behind this. May the ALMIGHTY GOD be with the deceased's family.
Aug 20, 2010, 10:01 AM, Ntsetselelo Hlophe (ntsetse@ymail.com)

This devil is already in hell while alive, poor child, you don’t deserve this, but lokuhle kutsi indzaba ayipheleli la, sesayotilandza phambi kwemdali ngemisebenti yetfu, this man will pay for this, I’m feeling sorry for this family, akusimalanga mangakhi losathane lo utophumela ebaleni, yes he can hide from us but there is one person he cant hide or run away from.
Aug 20, 2010, 10:17 AM, tsidi

Uyabona nasekunje I wish umtsetfo wamose would apply, an eye for an eye otherwise who is safe nakunjena? I would like to take this time let the Nxumalo family know that GOD is closest to those whose hearts that are broken, he sticks closer than a brother, he will see you through this.
Aug 20, 2010, 10:22 AM, sty (1314)

Poor child may her soul rest in peace, but as for this scumbag,lets take the law into our own hands and use the law of Moses, an eye for an eye, he must be beheaded too in public view, knowing our justice system he will go scot free.
Aug 20, 2010, 10:49 AM, Heartbroken

UNICEF, Save The Children Fund, CANGO, Lawyers for Human Rights, The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Civil Society, Members of Parliament, let us please advocate for the immediate return of the Death Penalty for such senseless and ruthless killing and purge the Kingdom of Swaziland of such undesirable, inhuman and anti - social elements!
Aug 20, 2010, 10:58 AM, Senzo

My good God have mercy on us. Kungabe kungekona kwetfu eSwatini noma God you about to come! The individual might be found but angentiwa lutfo in this country, like David Simelane, we hope that, due to our prayers, our God will answer our prayers, soon or later. Ncesini bekunene!
Aug 20, 2010, 11:12 AM, SIYA (siyabongamagagula@gmail.com)

May someone counsel the children who watched during the massacre of their fellow friend. I wish the devil should be killed the way she killed the child - ahudvulwe phansi esikonteleni till he dies
Aug 20, 2010, 11:19 AM, menzi (www.innocentreed@gmail.com)

To the family, I can’t even imagine the pain they are going through for their love one to die in such a barbaric manner. May the God Almighty comfort you and heal you. The satanic demons are on the loose and only concerted prayer can avert such horrific occurrences. Ncesini boNdwandwe.
Aug 20, 2010, 12:34 pm, Me

I have read the story with shock! What a shame??? As an albino myself, I really feel very depressed that such calamity has hit the Kingdom. It is very unfortunate that people with albinism are viewed by society in this manner. I would therefore request that all the responsible citizens of the country educate the psychologically twisted citizens on the fact that actually albinism is a colouring disorder and has nothing to do with any magical powers or healing. We are born from ordinary people and therefore our blood is the same even though our skin may be brighter than the rest. It is also important to stress that albinism is found in most parts of the world and not only in Africa and therefore there is no need for Africans to behave barbarically towards albinism Finally may I also appeal to the Swazi nation to as well stop mistreating people with albinism because they are normal people even though their sight may be challenged and their sensitivity to the sun may be profound, but touching or sitting next to someone with albinism does not change you nor lower your status. Let us be allowed to live peacefully and happily like all of you!!! Nicollete Mhlanga
Aug 20, 2010, 1:03 PM, Nicky (nicolletemhlanga@yahoo.co.uk)

What a brutal thing to do, an innocent young girl to be slaughtered like an animal. Last time I checked the death penalty still applied in Swaziland thus That devil needs to be stoned in public. Indeed it is for ritual purposes, all in the name of greed and power.
Aug 20, 2010, 1:22 PM, bas (selwynd@malmot.co.za)

This is why we need a hangman in SD. Lets just hope the police will be as efficient in catching that demon as they are at issuing traffic fines. If caught, he should be handed to us, the people. We will deal with him properly.
Aug 20, 2010, 1:28 PM, Anon

May God bless and comfort the Nxumalo family and the children who watched this barbaric incident. It's true, there's a vacancy in cabinet and senate. This was bound to happen. The so called powerful people are doing this that's why a SA registered vehicle was seen. Those were not South Africans but Swazis. After all no justice will be seen. Cops are running after drunk people. How many times have we said, drink driving is not a major concern. I request the King to appoint young vibrant people to lead the armed forces especially the police. There’s a lot of them. May the innocent soul rest in peace.
Aug 20, 2010, 1:51 PM, TG (Martin.Gwebu@lumwanamine.com)

HULUMENDE UPHI YENABAKITSI? WE REALLY NEED THE DEATH PENALTY TO BE PUT IN PRACTICE. VELE SINGCENGANI NJE? THIS IS SO FRUSTRATING MASWATI. NIKHUPHI BO?
Aug 20, 2010, 3:37 PM, Sihlobosenkhosi (dlaminisihlo@yahoo.com)

This was very bad of these people and should not be tolerated by the state and the community. This isn't just tarnishing the country's reputation but sending shivers up the spine as to our safety as the youth of Swaziland. How do we call our friends from other countries to visit us if we know they might be subjected to such brutality. Let the law prvail bekunene.......BeNguni beGudu, may the Lord Almighty be with you boNkhabanhle during this sad moment. Madvudvu boConco Sothondose
Aug 20, 2010, 4:59 pm, Bandile Nxumalol (bandilenxm@yahoo.com)

It is high time sibambana simaswati silwe nebudlova.This horrible act deserves a severe penalty. Death penalty will do much better kunanaku lesikubonako. This is very pathetic. May the almighty have mercy. My sincere condolences to her family and her soul may rest in peace.
Aug 20, 2009, 4:59 pm, t (melusismo@gmail.com)

I am greatly shocked of such an incident especially because the young girl's family is known to me.Madvudvu BoMnguni.Urgent action from government has to be done before it's to late about this issue of our fellow brethren.They are also a blessing from God.
Aug 20, 2010, 5:00 pm, Sive Ndlela (sive.ndlela@yahoo.com)

WHY DO PEOPLE KILL AN INNOCENT GIRL LIKE AN ANIMAL? YES SHE IS AN ALBINO, BUT SHE IS STILL A HUMAN BEING JUST LIKE US. BONGWANE ASESIME KUBULALANA, NJENGE TINJA.
Aug 20, 2010, 5:19 PM, wily ndwandwe (williamndwandwe@yahoo.com)

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: