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CHIEF MALAMLELA’S GRAVE DESECRATED

20/10/2013 00:55:00 BY JOSEPH ZULU

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MLIBA – An opening which was dug in Chief Malamlela Magagula’s grave was discovered by family members about three weeks ago.

Chief Malamlela, of Dvokolwako, also a former senator died on May 5, 2012 from diabetes related complications.
His remains were buried at Mliba Mountain, in a spot his family keeps as a guarded secret.

The family strongly believes a ritual may have been performed when the chief’s grave was dug as some items and meat were allegedly left in the grave.
A resident saw people coming from the place where the grave is located very early in the morning and got suspicious. He reported this to the inner council (bandla-ncane).

At least seven people were summ-oned to the local royal kraal (Umphakatsi) after they were fingered as having committed the offence.
The seven had allegedly gone to the grave where they proceeded to dig up a section of it, which was then later covered-up. Senior members of the Magagula family reported the matter to the Royal Swaziland Police (RSP) last week on Thursday. Family members, including acting Chief Mohammed Magagula met on Wednesday over the matter.

Mohammed is a brother to the late Chief Malamlela.
He confirmed the Wednesday meeting, saying he was still to brief other senior family members.
Mohammed also confirmed the grave had been tampered with.

“We found some items left in the grave including meat believed to be beef,” he said.
He declined to give more information on the discovery adding that the matter had been reported to the police. Mohammed said the matter was being treated very seriously.
He also confirmed he had been part of the delegation which went to report the matter to the police. The shocking discovery is said to have further fuelled disputes which allegedly exist among the family.

Mohamed, however, said the disputes were normal, adding that such usually happened when a chief died.
He then revealed that when family members discovered what had transpired at the grave, a delegation was sent to inspect.
The team returned and reported that the grave had indeed been tampered with.

This was surprising because no person is allowed to visit the grave without the permission of senior family members.
The acting chief said this was the reason the grave was guarded to prevent anyone from going there.
“No one is allowed to go to the grave for any reason,” said the acting Chief.

He said it would be illegal for anyone to even go near the grave without the permission from the Magagula clan.
“If it were necessary for anyone to go to the grave, we should have been the first to know,” said Mohammed.
When asked about the extent to which the grave had been tampered with, said an opening had been made in the grave but had since been closed.
He said senior members of the chief’s family were yet to discuss a way forward.

The secretary to the inner council was also reached for comment but he referred questions to the chief’s kraal.
He was aware of the matter as it was initially reported to the inner council he said he did not have the authority to speak to journalists.
“You should speak to the acting Chief for more information,” he said.

Inspector Khulani Mamba, the Police Deputy Public Relations officer (PRO) said the matter had not been reported when called on October 10.
“Police will go to the grave to verify those allegations” said Mamba.

The Deputy PRO wondered why a person would go to the Chief’s grave if the family had not given them permission.

He said even police will need to get permission from the family for them to investigate the allegations. Superintendant Hleta, the police PRO later confirmed that the family reported the matter to the police on Thursday last week.

Hleta said police were informed that some people had gone to the grave to perform a ritual.
“The family is yet to meet on the matter and may resolve it amongst themselves,” she said.
Hleta said the family was expected to meet yesterday over the issue.