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Mandla Maziya who was suffocated and killed by police leaves behind 11 orphans, pregnant widow.

Thursday, 17th December, 2020

SIMUNYE: Mandla Maziya, the security guard who was allegedly suffocated and killed by the police in the midst of a criminal investigation over a missing tonne of sugar leaves behind 11 children and a pregnant widow. 

This was confirmed by his brother Nhlanhla Maziya when speaking to this Swaziland News on Thursday after this publication conducted investigations regarding the number of children who are now orphans following the death of their father.

Mandla Maziya of Mnjoli was working for Securoscope Security, a company that was contracted to provide security services for Southern Star at Thabankulu where the tonne of sugar went missing.

“He leaves behind 11 children and a pregnant widow, this means the unborn-baby is already an orphan” said Nhlanhla Maziya, a brother to the deceased.

Reached for comments, human rights lawyer Sibusiso Nhlabatsi said it was very unfortunate that police are killing citizens instead of investigating, arrest and take them to court.

“The role of the police is to investigate and take suspects to court not to kill them, the court will then preside over the matter to determine whether the suspect committed a crime or not” said the human rights lawyer.

Maziya was grabbed by Simunye police on Friday and taken to the police station where he was allegedly suffocated and killed, police later arrived at the Maziya homestead to report that he died in their custody.

Reached for comments earlier on the subject matter, Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, the eSwatini police Spokesperson confirmed that a man caught by death while in police custody, however, she said investigations were still on-going to ascertain the cause of death.

“We do have a man who was caught by death while in the custody of police. He complained of chest pains and started sweating. Investigations are underway to ascertain the cause of death and proper action will be done” said the police Spokesperson.

Mandla Maziya who was suffocated and killed by police leaves behind 11 orphans, pregnant widow.
The late Mandla Maziya homestead.