A 28-year-old woman was fatally shot on Tuesday night while travelling as a passenger in a vehicle that allegedly failed to stop during a joint operation conducted by the police and soldiers.
The deceased has been identified as Silindile Dlamini of Bhekinkhosi.
The tragic incident occurred at around 11:40pm near Mgunyane Shopping Complex along the road between Luve and Mafutseni.
Sources close to the investigation said members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service were conducting a joint operation with the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) when the vehicle in which Dlamini was travelling approached a checkpoint.
According to the sources, the white Honda Fit sedan was allegedly travelling at high speed when police signalled for the driver to stop.
However, the driver reportedly failed to comply.
It is further alleged that a soldier also attempted to hail the vehicle, but the motorist continued driving.
“A shot was then fired and it struck the female passenger in the head,” said a source.
The driver reportedly stopped the vehicle shortly after the shot was fired.
The injured woman was rushed to hospital where she was later certified dead.
Sources further revealed that after the vehicle was searched, nothing illegal was found inside.
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“Surprisingly, nothing illegal was found in the car so it is not known why the driver did not stop when initially directed to do so,” said the source.
Acting Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Assistant Superintendent Nosipho Mnguni confirmed the incident.
Mnguni said investigations into the circumstances surrounding the shooting were ongoing.
Meanwhile, Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force Public Relations Affairs Officer Major Sandile Gwebu explained that during joint operations with the police, soldiers are generally not permitted to stop motorists.
However, he said soldiers may assist the police if motorists fail to comply with lawful instructions to stop.
Regarding the incident, Gwebu confirmed that the motorist did not initially stop when directed.
“A warning shot was fired,” he said, although he did not specify whether it was discharged by a police officer or a soldier.
Gwebu added that the matter had since been handed over to the police for further investigation.
