Shock as soldier kills daughters, commits suicide

SHOCK and sorrow have shattered the Mhlanga family of Mashobeni North after a member of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) allegedly forced his two daughters to ingest a poisonous substance, killing them both, before taking his own life in a horrific murder-suicide.

Dickson Nathi Mhlanga who would have turned 54 tomorrow, and his daughters Sanad aged three and Sikahle, 12, died following the incident on Wednesday night.

Mhlanga’s uncle Albert Sithole revealed that the family is struggling to come to terms with the tragedy, particularly because they had been preparing for his nephew’s birthday celebration.

Sithole said he had spent the past two weeks with his nephew at the family homestead, assisting with preparations for the celebration.

These included cleaning the yard, painting houses, and completing a rondavel (indlu yakagogo). Mhlanga had also reportedly looked for a cow to be slaughtered for the occasion, and several family members were aware of the planned celebration.

“He called me saying he wanted me to assist him with preparations for his birthday celebration. The preparations have been ongoing for about two weeks now and everything seemed to be going well,” Sithole said. However, the preparations ended abruptly on Wednesday. Sithole said his nephew 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. However, that time passed without his arrival, even though the builders had already reached the homestead.

Mhlanga’s wife tried calling him repeatedly, but her calls went unanswered. She later contacted a colleague who joined them in a conference call, but Mhlanga allegedly ended the call after realising his wife was on the line. At around 7pm, he finally called home to say he was on his way back passing through Ndlalambi.

Upon arrival, Mhlanga conversed with his wife in the main house before checking on his children, including the two young girls who were playing around the family compound.

“We thought he was giving them something, as he had been in town,” the uncle said. A short while later, the family heard the older daughter screaming for help.

“When we rushed to see what was happening, we found her having breathing challenges.

We asked what had happened, and one of the boys told us that their father had given the girls a mixture of juice and a substance suspected to be poisonous,” Sithole said.

While trying to assist the older girl, Sithole heard the children’s mother screaming after discovering that the younger daughter was facing the same challenges. The family raised the alarm, prompting neighbours to respond.

“Neighbours arrived and joined us in our efforts to assist the children while waiting for emergency services,” Sithole said.

“We attempted home remedies to flush out the poison, such as milk and cooking oil, but in vain. Their mouths foamed and the younger one Sanad died before paramedics arrived.”

Meanwhile, Mhlanga walked a short distance from where the children had been playing to a tenant’s flat who resides at the homestead.

He allegedly told the tenant that he was leaving this world, bid them farewell and confessed that he had given his daughters poison.

According to Sithole, Mhlanga subsequently became dizzy, lost his balance and collapsed, calling on those around him to hold him. 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.

‘I loved you, my children; rest in peace’

WHILE the family and neighbours tried to save their lives using different home remedies, Dickson Nathi Mhlanga declared his eternal love for his two daughters.

Though he was growing weaker, Mhlanga said, “Benginitsandza bantfwabami, lalani ngekuthula.” His uncle shared that Mhlanga stated he was dying and wished for his daughters to rest in peace.

‘Was he preparing for his birthday or his funeral?’

THE alleged double murder-suicide has left relatives questioning what could have led to the tragedy, especially because preparations for Mhlanga’s birthday celebration had been progressing well.

One family member said she had already started preparing dresses and consulting makeup artists ahead of the weekend celebration, believing the family was organising a memorable occasion.

“Now we are left wondering whether he was preparing for his birthday or planning his own funeral. We were expecting something big this weekend,” she said.

The relative noted that the couple had appeared happy during the preparations, although she recalled an earlier period when Mhlanga had stayed at his parental home at Zibonele for about a week during his days off before eventually returning.

She added that she was unaware of any serious problems between the couple at the time of the incident. She noted that it was possible that Mhlanga had been keeping his personal troubles to himself. The relative speculated that he might have purchased the poisonous substance during his trip to Manzini, though this could not be independently established.