SITEKI – Two Maphungwane men have confessed to murdering a 34-year-old man and robbing him of his cellphone and sneakers.
Fana Lwazi Matsenjwa (30) and Siboniso Sibonangaye Maziya (28) made their first appearance before Magistrate Zwelithini Magagula at the Siteki Magistrates Court yesterday, after confessing to the killing of Sifiso Hlatjwakho of Siweni.
The pair appeared before court facing a charge of murder. They were remanded in custody until June 8, 2026, pending committal to the High Court.
According to the charge sheet, the accused, acting jointly and in furtherance of a common purpose, unlawfully and intentionally killed Hlatjwakho on or about February 22, 2025, in the Siteki area of the Lubombo District.
Court records indicate that both accused were informed of their constitutional right to legal representation. However, each elected to conduct his own defence.
The prosecution then applied for their continued detention while arrangements are made for the matter to be transferred to the High Court.
The court subsequently ordered that both accused remain in custody until June 8, 2026.
Details contained in statements recorded before court reveal how a night of drinking allegedly ended in a fatal confrontation that claimed Hlatjwakho's life.
According to the statements, the accused and the deceased had spent time drinking together at KaNdawo, a local drinking spot in the area. They later decided to leave and continue drinking elsewhere.
Before leaving, Matsenjwa allegedly borrowed Hlatjwakho's cellphone, claiming that he wanted to call his girlfriend.
The statement reveals that while Matsenjwa was attempting to make the call, Maziya and the deceased walked ahead of him. As they were walking behind Lubombo Mall where Boxer is situated, the deceased requested the return of his phone because the people he was walking with were now leaving him behind.
The deceased reportedly directed his demand to Maziya, who informed him that he was not the one who had borrowed the phone.
According to the statement, Hlatjwakho persisted in demanding the return of his cellphone, resulting in an argument between the two men.
The confrontation allegedly escalated when Maziya blocked the deceased and attempted to assault him. A physical fight then broke out between the two men.
The statement further indicates that during the altercation, Hlatjwakho gained the upper hand and managed to overpower Maziya, adding that the deceased was now on top of Maziya while strangling him.
At that stage, Matsenjwa allegedly arrived and joined the confrontation.
According to the confession statement, Matsenjwa struck and kicked the deceased while he was still on top of Maziya. The deceased reportedly fell to the ground following the assault.
However, the violence did not end there.
The deceased fell down after being kicked and when he tried to stand up that is when Matsenjwa stabbed him. The deceased fell and when he tried to stand up again Matsenjwa stabbed him.
Following the stabbing, the two accused allegedly robbed the deceased.
The statement indicates that they took his cellphone and a pair of sneakers before leaving the scene and proceeding to Maziya's homestead.
According to the recorded statement, the accused later travelled to Endlini Yetjani.
The following day, they allegedly used the deceased's cellphone as collateral in exchange for beer at a drinking establishment. Investigators further established that the two men subsequently went their separate ways.
The statement reveals that Matsenjwa later returned to his homestead at Maphungwane, while Maziya fled to Mahhuku where he secured temporary employment.
At the time, Matsenjwa allegedly did not know that Hlatjwakho had succumbed to his injuries.
According to the statement, it was approximately a month later when Maziya contacted Matsenjwa and informed him that the victim had died. The statement further indicates that Matsenjwa later travelled to visit Maziya again.
During that period, the two allegedly committed another offence in Maziya's area, resulting in their arrest by police. After being released from custody on the unrelated matter last Saturday, police officers were allegedly already waiting to arrest them in connection with the murder investigation.
Meanwhile, the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) has commended investigators for solving the case more than a year after the killing.
In a statement posted on its official Facebook page, the police said the arrests were the result of extensive and dedicated investigative work.
"Siteki police due diligence and commitment in a murder investigation committed in February 2025 paid off as on Saturday May 30, 2026 two suspects were arrested and charged in connection with the case," the police stated.
According to police, Hlatjwakho's body was discovered on February 24, 2025, at approximately 12:30 pm in Siteki Town.
Information gathered is that on February 24, 2025, a 34-year-old man of Siweni was discovered dead in Siteki town with multiple stab wounds all over the body and the assailants were unknown.
At the time of the discovery, investigators had no suspects and little information regarding those responsible for the killing.
However, police said persistence and painstaking investigative work eventually yielded results.
The matter returns to court on June 8, 2026, when the accused are expected to be formally committed to the High Court to face trial on the murder charge.
(L-R) Fana Lwazi Matsenjwa (30) and Siboniso Sibonangaye Maziya (28) of Maphungwane making their first appearance before Magistrate Zwelithini Magagula for murder charges.