MBABANE – The Crown’s first witness in the alleged theft of E228 644.25 worth of rail steel case which occurred in Mlilwane in 2022 says the four accused in the matter are shielding the fifth man.
When called to testify at the Mbabane Magistrate Court before Senior Magistrate, Sifiso Vilakati, the Crown’s witness, Mduduzi Dlamini, who works as a ranger at Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary said three years later, the four men who are charged have not revealed the fifth man who was one of them. He fled the scene when the others were apprehended.
Dlamini, a senior ranger, was testifying at the start of the trial of Andreas Velaphi Malumane, Sipho Sobhi Lushaba, Sikhumbuzo Cyprian Kunene, and Khanyakwenzwe Sonnyboy Manana who are out on bail.
They are facing a charge of malicious injury to property for being found in possession of at least 13 rail metal tracks around Mlilwane. Dlamini told the court on December 27, 2022, he was on patrol in the morning around 10am. “I came across metals that were covered with gum leaves on the ground and saw car tires and rail lanes cut into pieces,” Dlamini said.
Dlamini said when he followed the tire tracks he was led in a distance to a packed vehicle and heard sounds. He said a Toyota bakkie came by but he stopped it whereupon two people, a driver and another, on the back were sighted. Dlamini then described the contents found in the vehicle.
“I saw rails that were the same as the cut rails I had seen covered with gum leaves. I asked them where they got them, and they said they got them from the railway. It was there and then where I called my other colleagues who are rangers too to come and assist me,.” he said.
The witness narrated to the court that when his colleagues arrived, they took the two men they found in the bakkie and told them to lead them to where they got the rail steel they were carrying from.
Dlamini said they were further led to three other men caught in the act but one of them fled the scene, leaving two of them busy cutting the rail. Dlamini further told the court that he is convinced that the accused knows the identity of the fifth man who fled.
He said he was made to believe that because it was impossible to work with a partner in crime without knowing who they are. Senior Magistrate Vilakati advised Dlamini not to bring into his testimony the fifth man as he was not co-joined with the four accused.
Dlamini further shared that the four accused had a cutting torch and a handigas canister with them. Dlamini then took the 13 rail rods to the Mhlambanyatsi police station. He said he identifies one of the accused, Lushaba.
“I know accused number two because he worked at Nkhube, near his home area,” Dlamini said. He also stated that about 40m of rail was stolen. The matter is expected to continue on June 16, 2025.
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