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Kidnapped' child in underground tunnel?

07/11/2010 00:00:00 NHLANHLA MATHUNJWA

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MBABANE – There was serious panic yesterday morning when a security guard raised an alarm, saying he had spotted a child in a manhole within the city.

The child who is alleged to have been in the company of a number of people underground is believed to have been kidnapped by criminals who use the manholes as their place of abode.

Sibusiso Malindzisa told the Times SUNDAY that he was on his way to the Engen Garage where he is stationed.

"I was passing by one of the manholes openings when I heard the child screaming," he said.

"At first I thought the child may have fallen inside but when I got closer I discovered that there were more people inside. When I was about to hold the child’s hand, I heard a male voice asking the child where she was going. The child was somehow pulled back."

Malindzisa said he then went to the next opening situated at the entrance of the Engen Garage where he confirmed that there were more people underground.

"You could hear them grumbling and the child screaming," he said.

"The child’s scream attracted more people as they all wanted to see the people talking underground. When they were asked to explain who they were, we never got any answer and that was the last time we heard the voices."

He insisted that he had seen one of the children adding that there was also a male person underground.

"I saw the child and she wanted help but surprisingly, there was someone below who did not want to release the child," he said.

"I then called the police who quickly arrived at the scene. However by the time they arrived, these people were nowhere to be found".

Police Public Relations Officer Superintendent Wendy Hleta, said they had received a report of two children who had gone missing.

"The parents have already reported and we have already launched an investigation but as of now we have not yet been able to trace their whereabouts," she said.

"However, we are being disturbed by the reports that there were children who were spotted in a manhole. At the moment we cannot confirm that these children are those who have gone missing. However, we are taking these allegations very seriously."

Teargas thrown into tunnel

MBABANE – The public was not spared from the teargas that was thrown into the underground tunnel through the manhole. This was in an attempt to force out the people believed to have been inside. However, the decision to use the teargas was taken before it was known that there were children who were suspected to have been kidnapped inside.

The police arrived at about 8.30am after being called by the public who wanted to see the people in the tunnel. The police opened some of the manholes and went in trying to see if there were any possibilities of finding the people. One of the officers crawled through one of the manholes but never saw anything.

The police then took a decision to throw the teargas. Some of those passing through between the Engen and Galp Filling Station were affected by the smoke as it came out through some of the manhole openings especially the one situated at the Galp Filling Station. Some of them were seen running towards the Swazi Plaza while others went to the Galp Garage seeking for cover.

Personnel from the Swaziland Fire and Emergency Service was also called to help the police as they were searching for the children that were allegedly seen in the manhole. They also crawled inside with the hope that they would find evidence but that was not the case as the only thing they discovered were footprints.

Missing schoolgirls found but…

MBABANE – Two young girls who did not return home from school on Friday and were believed to be the ones in the underground tunnel have been found.

Nonkanyiso Vilakati (10) and Nomthandazo Lukhele both pupils at Qedusizi Primary left school during break time.

The pupils who happen to be friends never returned home on Friday and their parents began to look for them.

Since there was a storm in the city on the day, their parents thought the girls had been delayed by the heavy rain. The search continued for a better part of the night and thereafter, the matter was reported to the police.

Yesterday morning, a security guard who was on his way to work heard the voice of a child screaming for help.

The two pupils were yesterday taken back to their parents.

This was after a day long search conducted by their parents and the police.

Superintendent Wendy Hleta confirmed that the pupils were safe and had been taken back to their parents.

"There was suspicion that the girls were those who were allegedly heard seeking help from inside the tunnel," she said.

"The two children have been found and they have been taken to their parents."

Meanwhile, Assistant Superintendent Clement Sihlongonyane, Mbabane Desk Officer, said the pupils spent a night at their friend’s house in Sidwashini in fear that they might be injured as there was a storm.

"Later this morning, we got information that they were safe and we have made it a point that they are with their parents," he said.

The search for the child allegedly spotted by Malindzisa continues.