Mbabane – Four men have pleaded guilty to terrorism-related offences stemming from the destruction of electricity and telecommunications infrastructure in the Shiselweni Region during the December 2021 unrest.
The accused are Bhekani Crisper Nhleko, Sibusiso Bho Thwala, Mfanukhona Thabani Mangwe and Qiniso Fire Nxumalo, also known as Mkhatshwa.
According to an amended indictment filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, the four admitted contravening Section 5(1) of the Suppression of Terrorism Act, read together with several provisions of the Act, for acts committed between December 14 and 16, 2021, at or near Hluthi, Mantambe and Hosea.
The Crown alleges that the accused, acting individually or jointly with other people who remain at large, were members of a terrorist group and participated in activities that included arranging and attending meetings intended to further the activities of the group.
Prosecutors stated that a meeting was held on December 14, 2021, under a tree at or near Hosea and Jele Senzenjani. The gathering was attended by members of the group, described in court papers as “comrades”, as well as members of the public.
The indictment alleges that Nhleko, Thwala, Mangwe and Nxumalo led or were in charge of the proceedings. During discussions, proposals were made to cut electricity poles belonging to the Eswatini Electricity Company using hacksaws in order to plunge the country into darkness and to burn school toilets.
Other proposals allegedly made during the meeting included burning or petrol-bombing police stations, blocking roads around Hosea, Mantambe, Lavumisa and Nhlangano with logs, robbing police officers of their weapons and targeting an Eswatini Electricity Company depot.
The Crown alleges that on the evening of the same day, the four accused and other individuals carried out some of the resolutions adopted at the meeting. These included cutting and damaging electricity poles and blocking public roads with the poles.
Court papers state that the accused and others gathered at night and travelled to various locations, including Mzili, Hluthi Town, eMbangweni and eNsingizini, where electricity poles were damaged and roads obstructed.
The prosecution further alleges that police officers and officials from the Eswatini Electricity Company discovered on December 18, 2021 that several electricity poles had been cut and left lying across public roads.
At Muntoyedwa in Mantambe, about 20 R6 poles and four R4 poles were allegedly damaged or cut. The value of the damaged poles was estimated at E200 000.
The indictment also states that on or about December 23, 2021, seven one-metre telecommunications poles belonging to Eswatini Posts and Telecommunications were found to have been cut. The estimated loss was put at E2 990.12.
According to the charge sheet, the cutting of electricity poles resulted in widespread power outages affecting Hosea, Hluthi Clinic, Hluthi Town and surrounding areas. Essential services were disrupted, while telecommunications services were also affected.
The Crown contends that the acts were committed for political or ideological purposes and were intended to intimidate the public, compel the Government of Eswatini to refrain from carrying out its mandate and bring about the overthrow of the lawful government by force or violence.
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