MANZINI: Siphiwe Mkhabela, the mother to the late University student Thabani Nkomonye survived another assassination attempt on Sunday after being shot by the police.
This comes a few weeks after Government through Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku announced Magistrate Nonhlanhla Dlamini as Coroner to investigate the mysterious death of Thabani who was allegedly killed by the police, his body was dumped at Nhlambeni triggering series of protests.
It has been disclosed that on Sunday around 8pm, Thabani’s mother who is one of the key witnesses in the death of her son has been followed by the police, the members of the law enforcement agency then tried to kill her next to Xchange Lounge at Ngwane Park by firing shots aiming at the head of the driver.
Reached for comments, Khumbulani Mkhabela, a brother to Thabani Nkomonye’s mother who was driving a BMW registered JSD 338 CH confirmed the shooting saying they later gathered that the police were from the Operational Support Service Unit(OSSU).
“The police know this car because we have been using it in attending the proceedings in the midst of an investigation into Thabani Nkomonye’s death, so we suspect that they have been following us” ,said Khumbulani Mkhabela, a brother to Nkomonye’s mother.
Speaking to this Swaziland News, Lala Nkomonye, a sister to Thabani who confirmed the incident on behalf of the family said Siphiwe Mkhabela was shot next to Mkhiweni at Ngwane Park.
“I can confirm that the incident occurred last night at 8pm next to Mkhiweni just after the Xchange turnoff. She was coming from attending to a breakdown of one of her vehicles and she was escorting it back home together with her brother (driver). There were about 3 cars in front of them,\" she said.
This is not the first time Thabani’s mother survived an assassination attempt, during the memorial service of the University student, police fired teargas canisters and alleged rounds of live ammunition at mourners, Mkhabela was among those who were rushed to hospital.
It has been disclosed that police later took the bullet that was inside the car after the Nkomonye family reported the shooting at the Manzini Police Station and pleaded with them not to speak to the media about the incident as it might trigger more protests.
Questions were sent to Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, the eSwatini police Spokesperson, however, she had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
Reached for comments, Advocate Mduduzi Mabila who represents the Nkomonye family in the ongoing investigations into the death of Thabani said he was also aware of the matter but referred comments to lawyer Gigi Reid whom he said was part of the legal team and mandated to speak to the media.
Reached for comments, lawyer Gigi Reid said the matter has been reported to the police and they were waiting for a full briefing from
Thabani Nkomonye’s mother on what actually happened.
“The incident was reported to the police but we are waiting for a full briefing from Thabani’s mother regarding the shooting”, she said.
The car that was shot by the police in an assassination attempt.