A tragic incident has shaken the Mhlanga family of Mashobeni North in Eswatini after a member of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) killed his two daughters and then took his own life. The victims were identified as Sanad, aged 3, and Sikahle, 12. The family had been preparing for the soldier's 54th birthday celebration, which was set to take place the following day.
According to Albert Sithole, the uncle of the deceased soldier, Dickson Nathi Mhlanga, the family had been making preparations for his birthday celebration for about two weeks. The preparations included cleaning the yard, painting houses, and completing a rondavel. Mhlanga had also looked for a cow to be slaughtered for the occasion. However, the celebrations came to an abrupt end on Wednesday night when Mhlanga committed the heinous crime.
On the day of the incident, Mhlanga had left for Manzini at around 5am to collect money for the celebration and buy cement to complete the rondavel. He had promised to return before lunchtime but failed to do so. His wife tried calling him repeatedly, but her calls went unanswered. It was not until 7pm that he finally called home to say he was on his way back.
Upon his arrival, Mhlanga conversed with his wife before checking on his children, who were playing around the family compound. A short while later, the family heard the older daughter screaming for help. When they rushed to see what was happening, they found her having breathing challenges. The family later discovered that Mhlanga had given the girls a mixture of juice and a substance suspected to be poisonous.
The family attempted to assist the children using home remedies, such as milk and cooking oil, but in vain. The younger daughter, Sanad, died before paramedics arrived. Meanwhile, Mhlanga walked a short distance to a tenant's flat and allegedly told the tenant that he was leaving this world and confessed to giving his daughters poison.
The family continued trying to save all three while awaiting assistance, but the older daughter, Sikahle, also died. The three were rushed to Pigg's Peak Government Hospital, where they were certified dead upon arrival by a medical practitioner. Before his death, Mhlanga declared his eternal love for his two daughters, saying "Benginitsandza bantfwabami, lalani ngekuthula," which translates to "I loved you, my children; rest in peace."
The alleged double murder-suicide has left relatives questioning what could have led to the tragedy, especially since preparations for Mhlanga's birthday celebration had been progressing well. The family is now left wondering whether he was preparing for his birthday or planning his own funeral. An investigation into the incident is expected to shed more light on the circumstances surrounding the tragic event.
Key points
- The incident has shocked the community and raised questions about the mental health of the soldier.
- The family had been preparing for the soldier's birthday celebration, which was set to take place the following day.
- The victims were identified as Sanad, aged 3, and Sikahle, 12.
