Two men who threw stones at the car of Qethuka Dlamini,
one of King Mswati III’s official ‘praise singers’, have been jailed for 11
years and nine years in Swaziland.
One of the men is said to have told Dlamini he detested
him for working closely with the king.
The Manzini Magistrate was told Wandile Simelane, 28, and Vukani Dlamini, 23, both from Sigombeni, had
stood in the middle of the road to stop vehicles and then caused malicious
damage worth about US$6,000 to Qethuka Dlamini’s car and had intended to injure
him.
The two men were also charged with throwing stones and
causing malicious damage worth about US$850 to another car with intent to injure
Mlungisi Shongwe who was inside.
Simelane was further charged with common assault in that
he hit Masiko Dlamini with stones on the left knee and head, thus causing pain
and discomfort.
The men denied the charges but both were found guilty by
Magistrate Sebenzile Ndlela. Simelane was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment
while Vukani Dlamini was sentenced to nine years.
Local media reported that at a previous appearance in
court, Qethuka Dlamini, who is a soldier, said that one of the men who stoned
his car confessed that he detested him for working closely with the king.
The accused said they had been with a group of people and
many men were throwing stones. They denied that they had done so.
The two men were jailed without the option of paying a
fine instead.
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