NYANYALI: Ayanda Dlamini (26) ,the woman who was kidnapped and tortured by Hlathikhulu Police for demanding her child who went missing during the Incwala ritual ceremony has suffered damages to her uterus, she is now experiencing endless period pains.
This comes after two children from Nyanyali, under Nkwene Inkhundla went missing last year December during the Incwala ceremony, one which was Ayanda’s child, police protected the suspects kidnappers and refused to investigate the matter. The Police then kidnapped and tortured Ayanda after the youth of the area burnt the suspect’s home, during the interrogation and torture she suffered damages to her uterus.
Speaking to this Swaziland News on Tuesday, Ayanda said she suffered damages to her uterus such that her periods were irregular and was discharging blood clots and doctors were still assessing the extent of the damage to ascertain if she would be able to conceive again.
“As I speak, my periods are irregular and sometimes they occur two times a month, I’m also discharging blood clots which is something that never happened before. My doctors are currently monitoring the situation to ascertain the extent of the damage. This is so painful to me, since instead of getting to know the whereabouts of my child I have been subjected to such torture. I used to earn a living by doing other people’s laundry but now I’m unable to continue with that due to my condition”, she said.
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, Cebile Dlamini, the Secretary General of the Swaziland Rural Women Assembly (SRWA) sympathised with the woman adding that the police should be held responsible.
“This is painful and it’s too much for her since as we speak, her child has not been found and now she is sick as a result of police torture. The police were supposed to protect her instead of subjecting her to such torture. They need to be held accountable for this, since this woman has been denied a chance to a happy marriage and giving birth to new kids. We would like to plead with the police to stop this brutality since there are a lot of lives that were lost at their hands in the name of interrogation”, said the Secretary General.
Sabelo Masuku, the Commissioner at the Human Rights Commission advised that the victim should approach the courts to claim damages.
“This is a civil matter, the Commission doesn’t have the power or mandate to award damages in such cases.She would have to approach the courts for redress, we are only confined to a violation of human rights.We only intervene in situations where the court would be seen to be dragging its feet on the matter in order for her to redeem her dignity”, he said.
On Tuesday, the youth from Nkwene Inkhundla delivered a petition to their Member of Parliament (MP) demanding for democratic reforms and answers on the missing children that disappeared during the Incwala ritual ceremony.
Ayanda Dlamini