PUDEMO man found with blood, swollen face’
By Welcome Dlamini and Zwelihle on May 12,2010
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, *SUPPORTIVE...SNAT Executive paid the family a visit and delivered some
groceries in contributing towards the funeral. (Pics: Mkhulisi Magongo)*
NCABANENI – Mystery surrounding the death of jailed political activist Sipho
Jele has deepened following fresh claims by his family disputing the
suicide.
While it is alleged that Jele committed suicide by hanging at the
Sidvwashini Correctional facility last week, his aunt Diana, who worked as a
government nurse for 30 years before retiring, yesterday disputed this
version by alleging that the state in which they found Jele’s body did not
collaborate claims of a suicide.
Jele was an engineering student and former worker for a contractor at the
now-closed Usuthu pulp mill in Swaziland.
He was also a member of the banned People’s United Democratic Movement
(PUDEMO).
Firstly, Diana alleges that when the family went to look at Jele’s body at
the Mbabane Government Hospital mortuary last week Tuesday, they found blood
that had come from his nostrils and, secondly, his face was badly swollen.
“From what I know a person who hangs himself doesn’t bleed from the nose,”
she said in an interview.
Secondly, the aunt claims that the blanket with which Jele is said to have
used to hang himself was too loose to form a noose that could kill a person.
Thirdly, Diana contends that Jele did not soil himself as was the case with
people who had hung themselves in her experience as a nurse.
Lastly, she argues that there was supposed to be something like a chair for
Jele to stand on for him to be able to get the blanket around his neck yet
this cannot be found in prison. Worth noting is that a postmortem has been
scheduled for today to determine Jele’s cause of death and it is
pathologists who can detect how he died.
Government has also set up an inquest, whose coroner is Principal Magistrate
Nondumiso Simelane, to look into Jele’s death.
What the family and any other person claim remain allegations until the
pathologist’s verdict.
On the other hand, Diana, said as a family they raised their concerns to the
police regarding the state in which they found Jele’s body.
“I don’t believe he committed suicide. His body was okay except for his face
which was badly swollen and blood coming out of his nose. That he committed
suicide isn’t believable. Even the blanket he’s said to have hung himself
with can’t kill a person,” a sombre Diana related.
Her argument is that the blanket was hanging loose from the dead Jele’s
neck.
“I told the police of the family’s misgivings regarding the blanket that is
said to have killed him. We told them it was too loose to kill a person,”
the aunt said.
Diana added: “His body was lying face down when we saw it and when I asked
the police as to why this was so, they told me that it was the hospital
staff that had put him in that position. As a person who has worked at the
hospital, I disputed this.”
An independent pathologist from South Africa, together with government’s
own, is expected to conduct Jele’s postmortem today. Jele was arrested for
allegedly wearing a T-shirt of the banned PUDEMO during May Day celebrations
at the Salesian sport ground.
Hardly three days later, he was reported to have died at the Sidvwashini
prison by hanging himself with a blanket.*
*
*...Cops patrolling deceased’s home?*
NCABANENI – Police are reportedly keeping an eye on the homestead of the
deceased Sipho Jele, a member of the proscribed PUDEMO.
Jele’s aunt, Diana, said the police were now a constant feature in the area
where they camp at a local sports ground which is situated less than 100
metres from the deceased’s homestead.
“The police are always at the sports ground and regularly come to patrol our
home,” the aunt alleged.
Diana said the police want to know every person who visits the Jele
homestead and alleged that a local prominent person was keeping the cops
abreast on the number of visitors to the bereaved family.
“You might even come across them (police) on your way out because they’re
always watching us,” she continued.
A Grade II pupil who is the late Jele’s nephew also confirmed the police
patrols and said ever since his uncle died they have been there daily.
“They drive a blue police car and they come here every day,” the youngster
said.
However, deputy police spokesperson Superintendent Wendy Hleta disputed that
police were patrolling the Jele homestead.
“There are no patrols that police have conducted at the Jele homestead. We
don’t know what the people there saw but it should be known that police
conduct patrols everywhere in the country. This is a fabricated story made
for unknown reasons,” Hleta said.
*SNAT deeply touched by Jele’s death *
NCABANENI – The Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) has
promised to stick by the Jeles until the end of the dece-ased’s matter.
Led by Secretary General Muzi Mhlanga, the SNAT executive paid a visit to
the Sipho Jele family yesterday to offer their condolences. The organisation
said it was deeply touched by Jele’s death especially because he was
initially arrested during the May Day celebrations which were jointly
organised by SNAT and the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU).
“We would like to advise you to have no fear but to be on the lookout for
people who might want to influence your stand in the matter,” SNAT acting
President Solomon Mabila said.
National treasurer Thabani Thwala added: “Our hearts are bleeding because of
what has happened to Jele and we pray that God doesn’t give rest to those
that caused his death.”
A postmortem is to be conducted today.
Link: http://www.times.co.sz/index.php?news=16525
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