Mbabane – The trial of three charged with terrorism related charges is set for April 4. Meanwhile, the ‘Commander’ of the Swaziland International Solidarity Forces (SISF) Thabo Kunene faces 75 charges for civil unrest rampage.
While Kunene is expected to appear at the High Court on Thursday for his application challenging the State from putting him on trial, on Tuesday, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) filed 32 fresh charges.
The amended indictment from the Acting DPP Lomvula Hlophe was filed at the High Court on Tuesday and deliberated in court ahead of the matter continuing next Wednesday, where it was postponed to.
The DPP sought the joinder of Kunene, Ncamiso Mabuyakhulu, Philani Sihlongonyane, and German Robert Dlamini to these charges.
Among the 32 charges, there are six murder counts, 17 attempted murder and nine on malicious injury to property.
In count one, the first three accused, Kunene, Mabuyakhulu and Sihlongonyane – charged with arson – are accused of petrol bombing an E1.2 million valued house, property of Maphumzane Ngcamphalala.
This is said to have occurred on December 20, 2021at Ndunayithini area in the Shiselweni region.
The indictment reads that Mabuyakhulu and Sihlongonyane allegedly travelled to Ndunayithini at night and destroyed the property before fleeing from the scene.
They are accused of an incident on May 24, 2022 whereby they allegedly lured an Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) member Nkosinathi Dlamini outside a church in Mahlabatsini, Manzini while posing as individuals searching for rental accommodation, and shot him when he appeared outside.
He was pronounced dead in hospital.
April 4 would be another trial date for three who are accused of burning a police vehicle.
Mayibongwe ‘Pupu’ Nyawo from Siphofaneni, Bonginkhosi ‘Bongo’ Nkambule, a member of the Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS), and Menzi Bhembe are accused of torching a police vehicle at the Mbabane Government Hospital. They are also accused of burning the national flag at the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) Mbabane Campus during a student protest on September 30, 2022.
The charges do not go unchallenged as they have legal representation.
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