Swaziland King’s newspaper reports ‘assassination attempt’ on Prince Sicelo

A newspaper in Swaziland / Eswatini has reported what it calls an ‘assassination’ attempt against Prince Sicelo, a prominent member of the Swazi Royal Family.

The Sunday edition of the Swazi Observer, a newspaper in effect owned by King Mswati III the absolute ruler in Swaziland, reported Sicelo was the victim of a drive-by shooting.

In the headline to its story the Observer said he had been ‘left for dead’.

The Observer reported (18 November 2018) Prince Sicelo was driving a white seven-seater vehicle at  Malagwane Hill near Mbabane when he was pursued by another vehicle that flashed its lights.

It reported he slowed down ‘ready to engage his pursuers’.

It added, ‘Just as the vehicle reached his side, he is said to have heard a loud banging sound which left him disoriented.

‘Seeing as he was slowing down, he is said to have involuntarily continued pressing his foot on the brakes as he moved further to the side of the road.

‘While in shock at the occurrence, still not aware that he had been shot, he is said to have heard two people approach the vehicle.’

The Observer said the attack happened on 20 September 2018 but details had only just emerged. It reported he lost consciousness for a while but later woke up and drove himself to the Mbabane Clinic where he was admitted for a week while being treated.

It reported he was ‘left for dead’ but added only one shot was fired and this lodged in his thigh.

It reported the attack as an ‘assassination attempt’ and said police later found a gun that it believed was used in the shooting.

Prince Sicelo is a controversial member of the Swazi Royal Family. Alleged exploits in his personal life are widely reported on social media.

Swaziland is an absolute monarchy. Political parties are banned from taking part in national elections and the King appoints the Prime Minister and Cabinet members. The attack on Prince Sicelo happened on the day before the national election in September 2018.

See also

PM speaks of ‘assassination threat’

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2018/04/pm-speaks-of-assassination-threat.html

MURDER ON THE RISE, SAYS POLICE CHIEF

Murders in Swaziland are on the rise and cases of armed robberies and sexual violence are being reported ‘with a disturbing level of frequency and regularity’, the kingdom’s police commissioner said on Wednesday (30 May 2018).

On average 61 women were reported raped each month and there were 180 aggravated murders since January 2017 (an average of 10 per month), Isaac Magagula told a crime prevention awareness campaign at Nkhaba.

Magagula also said 227 armed robberies were reported in the same period. 

His comments came on the same day that separately the United States in its annual report on crime and safety in Swaziland labelled Mbabane, the capital city, a ‘critical-threat location’.

Magagula said, ‘At this Campaign, we must state that murder cases are on the rise with cases of aggravated murders, armed robberies and sexual violence being reported with a disturbing level of frequency and regularity.’

He added that the majority of murders occurred in drinking spots and bars.

The Swazi Observer reported (31 May 2018), ‘He said the police service will be robust in conducting raids and ensuring that illegal drinking spots are closed and that bars operate within the parameters of their licenses.’

The Police Commissioner spoke about the number of ritual killings that had taken place in Swaziland in the run-up to this year’s national election. People reportedly have been killed so their body parts can be used in ‘muti’ to bring good luck. 

The Observer reported, ‘He said since 2017 to-date five cases that can be associated with this belief have been recorded with the most shocking incident being the one that unravelled at Mafutseni over the weekend, where a 16-year-old boy had his throat slit in a suspected ritual murder attempt.’

The Times of Swaziland reported on Thursday (31 May 2018) Magagula stated that there were 1,046 rape cases reported in the past 17 months.

It added, ‘The national commissioner stated that the most harrowing, are the cases where young children and elderly women are subjected to the horror of rape. “Also mindboggling are cases where biological fathers rape their own daughters, which is incomprehensible to say the least,” Magagula said.’

The crime prevention campaign took place on the same day the United States released its annual report on crime and safety in Swaziland. As in past years it labelled Mbabane as a ‘critical-threat location’. The report is aimed at US diplomats visiting the kingdom.

The Bureau of Diplomatic Security reported, ‘The general crime rate [in Swaziland] is above the U.S. national average. Although criminals consider Mbabane and Manzini prime grounds for operation due to the number of people, businesses, and affluent areas, the rate of crime reported in small towns and rural areas continues to increase. Urban areas are particularly dangerous at night, and the presence of pedestrians should not be interpreted as an indication of a secure/safe environment.

‘Residential burglary and petty theft are the most commonly reported crimes. They occur at all locations regardless of time. Criminals are generally interested in cell phones and cash. Most break-ins occur at homes without security guards and/or centrally monitored home alarm systems.’ 

It added, ‘Criminals usually brandish edged weapons (knives or machetes), but the use of firearms has steadily increased in the past few years. While criminals generally rely on the threat of force to commit crimes, they will resort to physical, to include deadly, force if victims resist.’

The report added, ‘Police response time to incidents is slow when compared to the U.S., unless the police are in the general area where the incident occurred. Police consider a 30-minute response time adequate, even in urban areas. Police are generally willing to assist but often lack transportation and resources to properly respond to, or investigate, crimes.’

See also

MORE CRIME FEARS IN SWAZILAND

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2018/02/more-crime-fears-in-swaziland.html

 

SWAZILAND A WORLD HOTSPOT FOR CRIME

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2013/05/swaziland-world-hotspot-for-crime.html

‘RESIDENTS MURDER ELDERLY WITCH’

Residents in Swaziland allegedly killed an elderly woman because she was a witch, a local newspaper has reported.
 

They enlisted a prophet to seek out the woman, the Swazi Observer reported on Friday (23 June 2017)

It happened at Sithobelweni where the woman reportedly had been ‘roaming around their homesteads and bewitching them’.

The Observer reported, ‘An elderly woman married to one of the residents was eventually killed after being fingered by a prophet who was hired by the community to root out the witchcraft practices in the area.’ She was named as Philphinah Mamba.

A case of murder is being heard before High Court Judge Sipho Nkosi.

The newspaper reported, ‘Giving evidence under oath, Sicelo [Mamba] told the court that the community was having a problem with a woman who would be spotted in the odd hours of the night moving around people’s homesteads naked and this was reported to the Royal kraal. 

‘Sicelo said following various incidents where the woman was spotted, the Inner Council convened a meeting where hundreds of residents were in attendance and deliberated on the matter.

‘At least three meetings in connection with the witchcraft, according to Sicelo were held and it was in the last meeting that they resolved to seek the services of a prophet who would assist them in fingering the witch giving them sleepless night.’

The Inner Council ordered that each homestead owner pay a sum of E50 (about US$4) as contribution towards payment of the services of a prophet called Boy Sithole. The woman was taken before a crowd of residents where she admitted to witchcraft, the newspaper reported.

The newspaper reported, ‘At this point, people insisted that a declaration be made with everyone signing next to their names to the effect that the witch be killed.’

She was later stabbed three times in the chest at her home.

The court case continues.

See also

‘MPs USE WITCHCRAFT FOR SUCCESS’

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2017/02/mps-use-witchcraft-for-success.html

WITCHDOCTORS TOLD ‘STOP MURDERING’

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2017/01/witchdoctors-told-stop-murdering.html