MBABANE: The Operational Support Services Unit(OSSU) vehicle that was reported to be involved in an accident on Saturday morning was actually shot by members of the Swaziland International Solidarity Forces(SISF).
This was revealed by the Spokesperson of the pro-democracy Underground Forces when speaking to this Swaziland News on Saturday evening.
“We have confirmed with the forces on the ground that the OSSU vehicle was shot on the tyre in a guerrilla style operation. They shot the vehicle and allowed it to roll, their intention was to finish-off the police officers only to find that members of the public were quick to respond to the scene. It was therefore not possible to finish-off those who survived as we didn’t want to harm members of the public. We have gathered that the police have transported the tyre to Mbabane for investigation but we are not intimidated, this was just a warning, more attacks are coming. The OSSU officers were rushing to Nhlangano to attack SWAYOCO members, so we had to stop them,” said the Spokesperson of the Solidarity Forces.
Two police officers died on the spot and five(5) were rushed to Hlathikhulu hospital in a critical condition after the incident on Saturday morning.
Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, the Police Spokesperson, had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
But WhatsApp messages between two police officers, seen by this Swaziland News suggest that by 3 pm on Saturday, the death toll had risen to four(4).
“It was actually bombed, four died, one had his legs cut-off. This information is being hidden kutsiwe ingake icale ifike ku-Zwemart(editor),” read WhatsApp messages shared between two police officers whose identities are known to this publication.
King Mswati set the police against the Nation on Friday during the Police Day when he urged them to deal with the insurgents “eye for an eye”.
Dozens have been killed by Mswati’s soldiers and the police since the political unrest started, this was after the King stopped delivery of petitions in demand for democratic reforms.
Reached for comments, Sergeant Cebile Shongwe of the Police Union confirmed that the vehicle was shot.
“I have verified with some police officers, the tyre was shot, they are now trying to investigate one influential member of PUDEMO. It’s possible that the officers did not hear the gunshots because when inside that vehicle, you don’t hear a sound outside,”she said.
An OSSU vehicle was allegedly shot by Solidarity Forces.