MBABANE – A 47-year-old man who was being sought by police in connection with the murder of 39-year-old teacher Hlobsile Vilane has been found dead in an apparent suicide.
According to reports, the suspect allegedly took his own life by ingesting poison at his parental homestead in Gege on Monday night. His body was discovered on Tuesday morning at Mahlabatsini.
The Eswatini Observer reported that Acting Deputy Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Inspector Mazwi Ndzimandze confirmed the man’s death.
Police also confirmed that no suicide note was recovered from the scene.
The deceased had been wanted in connection with the murder of Vilane, whose body was discovered in the boot of her vehicle after the car was found abandoned near Hhotela in the Nhlangano area.
The teacher, who was employed at Motshane High School, had been reported missing after leaving her home in Motshane on Friday evening. According to earlier reports, she telephoned her children after leaving home and told them to leave her supper in the microwave, assuring them she would return later that evening. She never returned.
Her vehicle remained parked near Hhotela throughout the weekend before concerned residents alerted police. Officers later towed the locked vehicle to the Nhlangano Police Station, where they forced it open and discovered her body inside the boot.
Vilane had sustained multiple stab and deep cut wounds to the head and face. Blood stains and strands of human hair were also reportedly found inside the vehicle, suggesting that she fought with her attacker before she was overpowered.
The discovery of the suspect’s body comes as police continue investigating the circumstances surrounding the teacher’s murder. Authorities have not yet disclosed the motive for the killing or the nature of the relationship between the deceased suspect and Vilane.
The killing of the teacher came barely a week after the country was left reeling from the gruesome murder of four women whose bodies were recovered from a water canal at Mhlaleni.
The victims were allegedly murdered by Apostolic Faith Church International pastor Nkosingiphile Zwane, who is accused of targeting women after making contact with them through social media or meeting them in public. Police allege the women were lured with promises of employment or social outings before they were raped, strangled and their bodies dumped in a canal near the church premises.
The two incidents have heightened public concern over the recent spate of violent crimes against women, with police continuing investigations into both cases.
Investigations into Vilane’s murder remain ongoing.
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