Africa-Press – Eswatini. High Court – As the trial for former minister Ntuthuko Michael Dlamini continued in its second day yesterday, a more shocking revelation was made by one of the witnesses in court.
Paraded as the prosecution’s witness number five Inspector Mazwi Mngomezulu who was the Bhunya Station Commander on September 7, 2020, told the court that when he asked Ntuthuko about what happened at Mhlabubovu after surrendering himself to the police, the former LaMgabhi Member of Parliament allegedly appeared proud of what he had done and bragged about the shooting and killings.
“My Lady when I asked Dlamini what happened since I had insisted that police were on their way and how serious the situation was, he told me he killed the people because bayedzelela (they were disrespectful), he appeared to have done a great job and was proud of what he had done,” Mngomezulu told the court.
It was at this point that Ntuthuko’s lawyer Noncedo Ndlangamandla stood up and objected that this witness gives this evidence since same was made in a confession to an officer of the law.
Prosecuting counsel Ncamsile Masuku was leading this witness when Ndlangamandla made the objection which was allowed by Judge Maxine Langwenya.
According to Inspector Mngomezulu, on September 7, 2020, he was at Matsapha when he received a call from Ntuthuko informing him there were people who had come to allocated land at Mhlabubovu.
Chaos
Mngomezulu told the court that he in turn informed Ntuthuko that he would shortly be sending police officers from his station at Bhunya to Mhlabubovu and again called for the second time informing him that there was going to be chaos and he (Mngomezulu) should rush to the scene.
However, on the third call, Ntuthuko according to Mngomezulu, called and informed him that there was a commotion as people had been hit and were lying on the ground.
“He told me that the people were fighting with knob sticks and in turn I asked him if there was any death and he replied to the affirmative and that he too was fleeing as he was being attacked,” said Mngomezulu.
By then relatives and friends of the deceased three men, including Ntuthuko’s relatives who had come to support him had their eyes glued on Mngomezulu as he gave his evidence and further told the court that upon arrival at the scene, he found two dead bodies and asked Indvuna Dumisa Ginindza what had happened.
According to the Inspector, Indvuna Ginindza of Luyengweni told him that Ntuthuko had gunned down the two and that the other had been rushed to Mankayane Government Hospital in a critical condition.
“I then received a call from Bhunya officers who informed me that Ntuthuko was at the station and had handed in two guns which he placed on the counter and when I arrived at the station I asked him what had happened and he told me the people were disrespectful and appeared proud of what he had done,” Mngomezulu said.
Seeing the seriousness of the crime Ntuthuko had allegedly committed, this witness then advised him to secure the services of a legal representative.
The former minister of the crown stands accused of the murder of three members of the Luyengweni inner council, Sikhulu Shongwe, a retired police officer, Themba Tsabedze and Simon Dlamini. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and the trial continues this morning.
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