Home | News | MY UNDERWEAR MISSING FROM BAG TAKEN BY COPS - PUDEMO MAN

MY UNDERWEAR MISSING FROM BAG TAKEN BY COPS - PUDEMO MAN

21/06/2022 08:57:00 Thokozani Mamba

Font size:

SITEKI - “My underwear is missing.”

This was a claim made by the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) Head of International Relations Siboniso Mkhabela, who insinuated that his underwear was missing from the clothing items that were confiscated by police officers manning a roadblock at Lukhula last Friday. Mkhabela was stopped by police officers at the roadblock on his way to attend a prayer service organised by the Multi-Stakeholders Forum (MSF) in remembrance of the victims of the June/July unrest. The police officers further took his two cellphones that are currently under detention after an order sought at the Siteki Magistrates Court on the same day. He was told that his cellphones had been taken for forensic investigations to Pretoria, South Africa.

Accompanying him to the Lubombo Regional Police Headquarters to enquire on why Mkhabela’s items were confiscated was MSF Chairman and Human Rights Lawyer Thulani Maseko and PUDEMO President Mlungisi Makhanya. His Lawyer, Maseko, yesterday instructed Siphofaneni-based Attorney Maxwell Nkambule to handle the matter. Mkhabela, in the company of PUDEMO Lubombo Branch Chairman Sifiso Mabuza and executive member Ncobile Mazibuko and Khetha Dlamini, held a brief meeting with Lubombo Regional Police Deputy Commander Vusi Ngqwane. Over 10 PUDEMO members accompanied Mkhabela to give him moral support. Mkhabela said Ngqwane referred them to the Siteki Police Station to get the clothing items and the copy of the detention order.

However, a senior police officer at the station informed Mkhabela that one of his colleagues had the order and it was locked in his locker. “He is the one who has the order but he is away,” said the senior police officer. The PUDEMO executive member was also given his bag with the clothing items that were confiscated. He claimed to have found that an underwear was missing when he was given the bag to check its contents. “I am fine that the two PUDEMO T-shirts are available as they belong to the organisation. I don’t mind that an underwear is missing but who can take an underwear and do what with it (sic),” he said, while wondering about the disappearance of his underneath garment.

Mkhabela was advised by the senior police officer to go to the Siteki Magistrates Court and ask for a copy of the order. However, Court Clerk Gcinaphi Dlamini attended to him and made means to locate it but she was unsuccessful. Dlamini also wondered how the police officer who applied for the detention order failed to serve Mkhabela with a copy as a respondent in the matter. “It appears that the copies of the order were taken by the police officer and none was left even at the court,” she said. Mkhabela said the detention order granted to the police for confiscating his cellphones was part of a strategy aimed at disorganising him ahead of the June 29 planned march and the July 18 event at Lomahasha. “On July 18, we have planned for a big event in remembrance of Mpostoli and Sgubhu and others who died (allegedly) in the hands of the police. The confiscation of the gadgets is part of that strategy to jeopardise our plans,” he said.

He further mentioned that he would continue to soldier on and be stronger in the struggle for freedom. “This is part of the ploy to disorganise the Lubombo leadership and ensure that nothing takes place on June 29 and July 18. I would like to inform members of political formations that they should remain resolute and strong in their fight,” Mkhabela said. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superitendent Phindile Vilakati said Mkhabela had to engage the station about the disappearance of his underwear garment.

Meanwhile, Mkhabela was stopped by the police while driving his BMW sedan from his home place, Lomahasha. He mentioned that he was told by the contingent of police officers from the Siteki Police Station and Lubombo Regional Police Headquarters who were together with soldiers, to drive his car to the regional headquarters while being followed. He said he drove fast and went to a safe place where he contacted PUDEMO President Makhanya and MSF Chairman and Human Rights Lawyer Maseko about the matter. Close to 50 members of political formations honoured the MSF prayer service which was held on Friday at the Good Shepherd Mission Church. Also in attendance were victims of unrest in Sabelo Mathobela and Machawe Lukhuleni. Swaziland Democratic Party (SWADEPA) executive member Elliot Mkhatshwa also gave a brief political background during the event.