MBABANE – “Life! From an MP to a minister, now I’m an inmate.”
Former Minister of Public Works and Transport Ntuthuko Dlamini yesterday recalled how quickly he transitioned from being a pupil, to a Member of Parliament (MP), a minister of the Crown and then becoming an inmate. This was after the former LaMgabhi Constituency MP was sentenced to 65 years imprisonment for the murder of three members of the Luyengweni Inner Council and being found in possession of an illegal firearm. For killing Sikhulu Shongwe, who was 70 years old in September 7, 2020, Simon Dlamini (61) and Themba Tsabedze (65), Ntuthuko (48) was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for each murder. He was also sentenced to five years imprisonment with an option of a fine of E5 000 for being found in possession of an unlicensed firearm.
Sentences
However, Judge Maxine Langwenya ordered that the sentences should run concurrently, which means that he will spend 20 years behind bars. The period Ntuthuko spent in custody after his arrest will be considered when computing the sentence. He spent six months in custody before he was released on bail by Principal Judge Qinisile Mabuza on March 10, 2021. After being convicted on December 12, 2022, he was taken back to custody where he remained until three months later, when he was sentenced yesterday. The period he spent in custody since his arrest on September 7, 2020 is nine months. Ntuthuko was dressed in an immaculate blue suit, black shirt and powdered blue tie. He informed reporters from this publication that after reaching Form III, his father informed him that he would not be able to pay school fees for him and fortunately for him, a certain man sponsored his education from Form IV.
Elections
The former MP said two years after completing Form V, he joined the national elections and won. “Ngaphila imphilo lekahle (I lived a good life) and then all of a sudden, this. Eish, awati. My CV has been distorted,” said Ntuthuko. The former minister pointed out that prison was not a pleasant place. “It’s not a joke.” He said he never planned to kill any of the three men he shot. Ntuthuko told this publication that when he went to Mhlabubovu on the fateful day, where members of the Luyengweni Inner Council were allocating a piece of land, his intention was to warn the inner council members not to proceed with the exercise. For decades, Luyengweni and LaMgabhi have been at loggerheads over who has authority over Mhlabubovu.
Ntuthuko said when he spoke to the Luyengweni Inner Council members and they did not respond to him, he walked away and called the station commander of Bhunya Police Station, but he overheard them saying police officers would not come to the area. He said they also told him to approach the relevant structures. “That’s why I went back to them. I wanted to know what they meant because the relevant structures, Ludzidzini and Liqoqo councils and the regional administrator, had dealt with the matter.” He said he was not proud of what he did and it pained him that some people thought he was excited about what happened.
Vicinity
“It pains me more that my wife was in the vicinity when these men came to call me and I didn’t tell her. If I had told her about it, she would have stopped me. “She saved me from many situations in the past and she was helping me a lot. Had I informed her about where I was going, none of this would have happened,” said Ntuthuko. He pointed out that he had disgraced his wife. “Ngimfake emahlazweni and some will bother her with how she got to be a killer’s wife.” On another note, Ntuthuko said he would continue with his studies in prison. The former minister holds a Diploma in Law from the University of Eswatini (UNESWA). He said he wished to complete his LLB and would study online. The minister’s sentencing was attended by members of his family and residents of the warring communities of LaMgabhi and Luyengweni. After the sentencing, residents from either of the two areas reacted differently.
Some residents of LaMgabhi felt that the sentence was harsh, while some of those who came from Luyengweni viewed the sentence as lenient.
When the judge was reading the judgment, there would be murmurs from residents from either LaMgabhi or Luyengweni in the courtroom when something that was either in favour or against Ntuthuko was mentioned. Judge Maxine Langwenya warned those in the gallery to allow the proceedings to continue undisturbed. “I don’t think this sentence if fair because three people were killed. How can he be sentenced as if he killed one man? He should be serving each of the sentences for every man he killed,” said a man from Luyengweni, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “At least he will be away for some time.” Ntuthuko’s elder brother wanted to know if the period he spent out of custody after being granted bail would be considered when computing the sentence. He said this was because, as a bail condition, the former minister was ordered not to stay at LaMgabhi when he was out on bail.
Arrested
He said he thought that the period from when his brother was arrested to yesterday would be deducted from the sentence, notwithstanding that he was once out on bail. His face lit up, however, when told that eight months constituted a year at the Correctional Services. Some LaMgabhi residents said they would have appreciated an even lesser sentence because the former minister was allegedly provoked and they believed that Mhlabubovu was under their royal kraal. Ntuthuko remained his usual self after sentencing and he was conversing with warders, journalists, members of his family and supporters. He requested his brother to look after his properties while he was in prison. His brother in turn promised him that they would visit him in prison. Ntuthuko was represented by Noncedo Ndlangamandla of Mabila Attorneys, while Principal Crown Counsel Ncamsile Masuku and Crown Counsel Nolwazi Mabila appeared for the Crown.