MBABANE: Colani Maseko, the President of the Swaziland National Union of Students(SNUS) is now suing the army for R2million after being assaulted by soldiers.
Maseko was kidnapped by Mswati’s soldiers at the entrance of the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) and heavily assaulted at a river next to Engabezweni Palace.
“Our clients instructs that on or about the 17th May 2022 at or near Kwaluseni Area he was unlawfully detained and further physically assaulted by a number of soldiers whose full and further particulars are unknown to our client. Our(sic)further instructs he was further made to roll on the ground and was immersed with his face into the river at or near Kwaluseni Area in the Manzini District. Our clients instructs that after the assault and suffocation he was then dumped by the members of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defense Force at Matsapha Police Station(Esigodvweni) where he was subsequently released without any charge being laid against him. Our client further(sic) that subsequent to the conduct of members who were acting with the scope and cause of their employment he was admitted at Mkhiwa Clinic in the Manzini District. Our client is a student at Southern African Nazarene University(SANU). Thus we demand on behalf of our client from yourselves as follows; pain and suffering E1,500.00.00, emotional trauma E500,000.00, future medical expenses E100,000.00. Our client further instructs that the sum of E2,100,00.00(sic)(Two million one hundred thousand Emalangeni be made payable to our offices,” reads a letter of demand from Mathokoza Mbhamali Attorneys addressed to the Army Commander Mashikilisane Fakudze.
A questionnaire was sent to Lieutenant Tengetile Khumalo, the Army Spokesperson, however, she had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
Reached for comments, Mathokoza Mbhamali, the lawyer representing the Students Union President confirmed the letter of demand addressed to the Army Commander and the Attorney General(AG).
“We can confirm that the letter of demand was delivered to the Attorney General(AG) and the Army Commander,” said the lawyer.
Assaulted Students Union President Colani Maseko sues army for R2million