Africa-Press – Eswatini. Incumbent International Crime Police Organisation (Interpol) President, Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi has, on behalf of the world’s largest police organisation expressed his profound and sincere condolences to Their Majesties, government, police and people of Eswatini on the passing of National Commissioner of Police, William Tsitsibala Dlamini.
Dlamini passed away on Saturday at the age of 74 after collapsing at the OR Tambo International Airport while on his way back home from an Interpol meeting in Angola.
He has served as the head of the police service since 2019 after his predecessor, Isaac Magagula, was appointed senator.
“My deepest condolences on the passing of Eswatini’s national commissioner. His passing is a great loss to all and will be felt among the people of Eswatini and beyond,” said the United Arab Emirates interior ministry major general.
He said his thoughts and prayers are with the people of Eswatini as they mourn their immense loss.
OR Tambo International Airport, the air transport hub of South Africa, catering for more than 21 million passengers each year, also passed their condolences to the people of Eswatini and the Dlamini family for the NatCom’s loss.
The late national commissioner served in the police service for 46 years.
William was a true servant – Lizzie Nkosi
Former minister of Health, Lizzie Nkosi, said William Tsitsibala Dlamini was a true servant, who could do anything to ensure the security and safety of Emaswati.
Nkosi said she was still in shock after learning of his death, noting that it is a great loss to the nation as Dlamini was a true leader, who had the interest of the country at heart. She was reacting to news of Dlamini’s passing.
The former health minister said Dlamini was a quiet person with visionary leadership and she learnt a lot about him during the COVID-19 outbreak, which was followed by the civil unrest.
“We used to communicate almost on a daily basis trying to strategise on how to counter the challenges at hand at the time. Through those interactions, I got to understand him, more especially his dedication to saving property and life,” said Nkosi.
She said he was a dedicated servant of the country, who made sure he pulled all stops to save lives.
“I would call him even in the middle of the night when the police service was needed when confronted with challenges in hospitals or in a situation, which required police ambulances when we fell short,” she said.
Nkosi passed her condolences to Dlamini’s family, the entire police service and the nation for the loss of a true and loyal servant of the nation.
“This is an absolute loss to the nation as Dlamini was a rare servant who put people first. He was a solid person who could do anything to protect and save the nation,” she said.
NATCOM was returning from attending the International Police Organisation (INTERPOL) 26th African Regional Conference, which closed with delegates agreeing to increase information-sharing in multiple crime areas, from wildlife trafficking to counter-terrorism.
This was a three-day meeting for police leaders from across the African continent who gathered to address organised crime, terrorism and other threats.
Dlamini was among the more than 160 senior police leaders from 36 countries in Africa and around the world.
He passed on while waiting to connect a flight home at Oliver Tambo International Airport at around 3am on Saturday.
News of his passing made headlines in most of South African main stream and online publications even before the family could learn of his death.
The Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) confirmed Dlamini’s death to the SA media after efforts by emergency services to resuscitate him proved unsuccessful.
Over an hour spent trying to resuscitate NatCom
South Africa emergency services offered assistance to the National Commissioner of Police, William Tsitsibala Dlamini, for over an hour trying to resuscitate him.
Eyewitness News reported that authorities said the police boss was declared dead after efforts to save him failed.
According to reports, Dlamini died at the OR Tambo International Airport on Saturday morning after experiencing severe health complications upon entering the country.
“Authorities said Dlamini was declared dead after emergency services offered medical assistance for an hour,” reads part of the report from EWN.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) on Saturday announced the passing of the police commissioner,
Dlamini, according to the SAPS statement, was in transit to the country from Angola where he attended the 26th Interpol African Regional Conference.
It is not known what led to the death of the national commissioner but information gathered is that he collapsed.
His family members reported that they were not aware of any ailments or health conditions that might have caused the national commissioner’s death.
The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), General Fannie Masemola, disclosed that police at the airport have also registered an inquest docket to determine the cause of death.
This is a loss to Southern African region
Former National Commissioner of Police, Isaac Magagula, said the sudden demise of William Tsitsibala Dlamini is a massive loss, not to just Eswatini but to the entire Southern African region.
“The passing on of a sitting commissioner on foreign soil while on State assignment is unprecedented and bound to create shock and anxiety, particularity as no history of ill health was known.
The news of his sudden demise was received with great sadness and devastation and utter disbelief and one could not believe it,” he said.
Magagula said having worked with Dlamini for a very long time, he knows what a blow and tragic loss that had been brought to bear on various categories of not only Eswatini but other Southern African Development Community (SADC) organs such as SADC Chief of Police (SADCO).
“I found him at the headquarters and worked with him for a long time,” Magagula said.
Describing their working relationship, Magagula said Dlamini was a man who was always willing to work.
“When I would call him out and even when things did not go smoothly while at work, he used to jump high.
He did not murmur at orders or have lugubrious face, he listened even when we disagreed. What I loved most about him is that even when we disagreed, at the end of the day we found a way to work together, may he rest in peace,” he said.
Magagula further said the nation has suffered a great loss.
“His demise has inflicted pain and indelible scars in our hearts as he was a great asset for the country. Some people are liabilities but he was the stick that the nation needed, to this end, it is with a heavy heart to express deep sympathy and heartfelt condolences to Their Majesties, his family, the police force and all other forces that he worked with.
We sympathise and grieve this loss, especially for those who he worked with,” he said. Magagula further said he prays that the Lord who gave and took Dlamini’s life grant Their Majesties wisdom in finding a suitable replacement.
“We pray that God gives Their Majesties the wisdom to pick the next commissioner. We say this knowing that everyone has their own skills and talents but people are not the same,” he said.
Magagula further said it was saddening that Dlamini was taken so abruptly.
“As they grieve, may there be unity of purpose. After I had departed from the service, we kept in touch, especially during the 2021 unrest. He left at a time when everything seemed to be going back to normal. He never got to see the outcome of his hard work among others. It would have been nice to see through the fruits of his labour,” he said.
He brought forces together – ComGen
His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS) Commissioner General, Phindile Dlamini has expressed her sadness at the passing of National Commissioner (NatCom) of Police, William Tsitsibala Dlamini and commended him for bringing the three forces of the country together.
Phindile said it was so easy to work with Dlamini.
“We worked so well together. We started working together as deputies in our respective forces and I learnt a lot from him.
We grew in our careers together and he had a lot of information to share. I must say he brought us together so well. I remember when HMCS had to work with the police service, he would always encourage that the forces unite and work together,” she said.
Dlamini passed away on Saturday at the age of 74 after collapsing at the OR Tambo International Airport while on his way back home from an Interpol meeting in Angola.
Phindile described Dlamini as very soft-spoken but was brave when necessary. “He was soft-spoken but he was very brave. When it called for him to be strict, he could do that despite his soft nature,” she said.
The commissioner general said Dlamini was her colleague but more than anything, he was her brother.
“He would call me his sister and I would know it was not about work and I would jokingly call him out on it.
I will miss him a lot for the relationship we shared,” she said.
Phindile also said he went above and beyond what was expected of him.
“It did not matter what time you called him, he would always be happy to give an ear and a helping hand. He was so efficient and worked tirelessly for the nation and respected his job very much. He will be missed dearly,” she said.
Dlamini voted on exchange of police data
The national commissioner of police was among 160 senior police leaders from 36 countries in Africa and around the world who voted to adopt a series of far-reaching recommendations to boost the exchange of police data within the region.
This was at the Interpol’s 26th African Regional Conference held in Luanda, Angola.
According to information shared by Interpol, with the amount of data that countries across the region share through INTERPOL systems increasing by seven per cent in the past year, even greater information sharing within and beyond Africa is recognised as a necessary condition to effectively address global crime threats.
Africa, according to the organisation, hosts more Interpol member countries than any other region, representing nearly one third of the organisation’s membership.
It was disclosed that the continent also hosts four of INTERPOL’s six regional bureaus: in Abidjan, Harare, Nairobi and Yaoundé.
“Noting the need to strengthen Regional Bureaus as a tool to provide tailor-made support to African member countries, delegates agreed to enhance the analytical capacity of Interpol’s African regional bureaus by increasing the frequency and volume of data provided to them,” reads part of the statement from Interpol.
It was disclosed that in turn, the regional bureaus agreed to plan and conduct regular joint operations with African regional police chief organisations targeting terrorism, cybercrime and transnational organised crime. “As part of this partnership, joint annual action plans will be developed based on regional threats and member country needs,” the statement reads.
NatCom was responsible for PM’s security
William Tsitsibala Dlamini was going to be responsible for the provision of security for the next prime minister and deputy.
According to Finance Circular No.2 of 2023 following the 2021 situation of the unrest in Eswatini, there was a shift in the country’s security landscape in May/June 2021.
The commission that tabled the report to be used by the 12th Parliament stated that it was their view that the NatCom remains ultimately responsible for ensuring adequate security within the kingdom.
“The National Commissioner of Police in consultation with the country’s intelligence agencies shall assess, on a continuous basis, the risk to the prime minister’s life and that of the deputy prime minister and provide the necessary security required to protect them commensurate with their status,” reads the Circular.
It further states that this assessment and provision of security shall be made available to the prime minister and deputy prime minister, based on the security risk beyond their term of office.
“The security will be provided at both the official and designated private residences of the prime minister and the deputy prime minister,” the circular states.
Upgrade
According to the Circular, the office of the national commissioner shall also conduct an evaluation of the private residence of all parliamentarians, designated office bearers and provide them with a report, setting out the required security upgrade for the private residences.
In addition to the security risk assessment, conducted in consultation with the country’s intelligence agencies, the national commissioner will also hold consultations with the ministry of public service, to agree on the personnel complement, to address the security needs on the ground.
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