By Musa Mdluli

MONENI:Brian Sihlongonyane, the Moneni young man who challenged Chief Nkamane Mkhatjwa of Lwandle and subsequently reported him to the Ludzidzini Council for allegedly selling his home has been killed by a group of unknown men.

Sihlongonyane was killed this week shortly after a meeting at Nkhanini where the Chief was summoned to answer on allegations of selling a home belonging to Sibhadvula Sihlongonyane, the grandfather of Brian Sihlongonyane.

Chief Nkamane allegedly colluded with Makoti Nomphumelelo Mahlalela, the woman with help of the Chief, allegedly sold “Babetala’s home” and subsequently disappeared

 As a result, the deceased became the only child who was fighting for the home belonging to his grandfather, by inheritance, the home was owned by Brian Sihlongonyane after the death of his grandfather and his biological father.

Reached for comments by this Swaziland News on Thursday evening, Pitoli Shabangu, an elder(uMsumpe) at Moneni who was supporting Brian Sihlongonyane in the demand for his grandfather’s home confirmed the death of the Moneni resident.

“We went to Nkhanini to appear before the Ludzidzini Council last week, Brian had reported the Chief for selling the home and two(2) days later, Brian was attacked by unknown people who killed him with a spear(sikhali). Now the very uMphakatsi or the people who sold the home, are refusing to allow the family to bury Brian Sihlongonyane within the premises of his grandfather’s home. Asisho kutsi kunjani kodvwa siyasola ngoba phela kusola-kusola,” he said.

Efforts to reach Chief Nkamane proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.

Senior Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, the eSwatini Police Spokesperson declined to comment about the matter.

But a close Sihlongonyane family member told this publication that, the Chief was demanding an apology from Brian Sihlongonyane’s relatives before allowing the funeral to proceed.

“The Chief is demanding an apology before allowing the funeral to proceed,” said a close family member.

Citizens are oppressed in eSwatini even by Chiefs, some are not allowed to bury their relatives without the permission from Chiefs or uMphakatsi.

But it remains unclear if Brian Sihlongonyane was not killed by agents of the Chief as both Nkamane and Nomphumelo Mahlalela were expected to refund the buyer his one and eighty thousand Rands(R180,000.00) and return the home to Sihlongonyane.

The matter that previously appeared before Manzini National Court(Ndabazabantu) and was widely reported by this Swaziland News, subsequently reached the Ludzidzini Council being the highest traditional Council but below the Liqoqo King’s Advisory Council.