Residents of Mbekelweni were shocked when a community member was found dead with his right foot cut off.
The lifeless body of the 53-year-old man was found within his homestead.
The gruesome discovery was made by his neighbour who was passing by around 6:50am last Thursday.
The matter was confirmed by Deputy Chief Information and Communications Officer, Assistant Superintendent Nosipho Mnguni.
She said Matsapha police have since launched a murder investigation following the grisly discovery of the 53-year-old man’s corpse.
The reason for the man’s suspected attack and subsequent murder could not be immediately ascertained.
According to information shared by the police, the deceased, who lived alone, was found lying dead at the gate of his homestead with his right foot severed. They said preliminary investigations suggested that the deceased may have been attacked during the night.
However, the police mentioned that there were no other visible injuries on the man’s body, and that it was believed that the deceased succumbed to severe blood loss resulting from the severed foot.
The Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) is appealing to members of the public in Mbekelweni and surrounding areas to assist with information that may lead to the arrest of those responsible.
“Anyone who may have seen, heard or anything, or who has knowledge that could assist in the investigation, is urged to come forward,” police said in a statement.
They further assured the public that all information would be treated with strict confidentiality.
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“The police have guaranteed anonymity to anyone who reports crime or any suspicious activities in their communities,” they said, emphasising the importance of community cooperation in combating violent crime.
This is the second major murder case to be reported since the beginning of this year. The first one was reported on January 2, where one Princess Nunu Johnson (30) was brutally stabbed and killed by her spouse Thulani Ginindza (40) while at Motshane.
On January 3, there was an attempt on the life of a 49-year-old man of Nkondolo in the Shiselweni region. He reported that his two-roomed house was set alight before three gunshots were aimed at him by unknown people. Fortunately for him, he dodged all three bullets.
Otherwise, there were three lives lost through suicide and an attempted suicide that were reported since the beginning of this year.
On New Year’s Day, a 14-year-old girl attempted to take her own life by poisoning. Luckily, she was found before it was too late.
Meanwhile, a 50-year-old man of Nkambeni committed suicide on January 3, while a 32-year-old woman of Sigangeni in the Hhohho region ingested poison which claimed her life.
In another incident, Thulani Ginindza (40), who is Princess Nunu Johnson’s husband, was found dead in a veld at Motshane on January 7. This was about five days after he fled his homestead where he had murdered his wife and mother of his three children.
