Nhlanhla Simelane
March 30, 2007
Mbane, Swaziland

The Swazi Observer
(Mbabane, Swaziland)
April 4, 2007

Alleged taxi man killer kills himself

Stories by Starsky Mkhonta

A YOUNG man from Mathendele Township in Nhlangano was 
found hanging inside a house yesterday morning.

Mthokozisi Mkhwanazi, in his early 20s, is said to have 
committed the suicide either the previous day or in the early 
hours of yesterday. Confirming the matter, Police Public 
Relations Officer Superintendent Vusi Masuku said the deceased 
was somehow linked to the murder of a Nhlangano taxi operator 
killed on Friday at the Nhlangano Park.

"The deceased, we are told, was among the group of boys linked 
to the murder of the taxi man. There are investigations on the 
matter including proving his linkage to the criminal offence. 
What we also found was a short suicide note where he 
mentioned items such as sandals as well as tennis shoes 
(emateki) and few other things. As to what these had to do with 
his decision to take his life, it is what we are also investigating as 
well," said the police mouthpiece.

Relatives of the deceased said when they found him inside the 
house he was already cold. It is said friends only saw him alive in 
the late hours of Sunday and nothing peculiar was noticed.

About the allegations that he could be among the youngsters 
presently sought for the murder of the taxi man, a relative said 
as a family they were not briefed on this.

The relative told The Swazi Observer that when found hanging 
on the rafters, one of his legs was folded.

"We strongly suspect that he had serious problems which forced 
him to take his life. That underneath where he was found 
hanging was his bed, we feel he could have easily decided 
otherwise and concluded that he had strong reasons for ending 
his life in such a fashion," said a close relative.

The relative who, however, stated that he was not mandated by 
anyone to be the family spokesperson regarding the matter, went 
on to state that crack detectives, led by famous Nhlangano 
police Constable Derrick Makhanya, came to the scene and 
lowered Mkhwanazi's body from the rafters.

It has been reported that Detective Makhanya is among the 
much celebrated officers known for their no-nonsense squad 
members normally tasked with investigating high profile criminal 
cases in the region such as murder and others. Constable 
Makhanya, it is said, is still in search of the murderers and 
indicators are that, he would soon be apprehending some of 
them in no time as already he has been furnished with the 
names.

Following the murder of a taxi operator in Nhlangano over the 
weekend, Constable Makhanya is said to have been roped in 
with some of his colleagues in search of the murderers, some 
who include a group of young men from the notorious township.

Nhlanhla Simelane of Mangwaneni was killed while chasing after 
one of the youngsters who had snatched a cellphone, Nokia 
1100. The group of boys teamed up against him and beat the 
daylights out of him.

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