The final send-off of Silindile Dlamini at Bhekinkhosi took on an unmistakably political tone, as members of political groups gathered and sang political songs.
This occurred despite the family’s repeated pleas earlier this week for peace, privacy and a dignified mourning free from disruption.
The burial took place yesterday morning, at her parental home at KaBhekinkhosi, following a night vigil at the nearby sports ground.
What began as a conventional farewell soon reflected broader tensions.
The night vigil was opened in traditional fashion. A praise team led gospel worship under the main tent, with voices rising in harmonious songs of comfort. Pastors alternated in sharing scripture and short reflections on loss and hope, while family and friends sat in quiet attendance, some dabbing at tears.
The calm held until around 3am, when supporters of the Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO) and the proscribed People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) started chanting and dancing to political songs outside the tent.
The lyrics demanded justice for Silindile’s death.
The expressions soon moved inside as pro-democracy members entered the tent and continued singing and moving to the rhythms. Scripture readings and speeches inside the tent halted. The programme director intervened several times to restore order, but the songs persisted without interruption from the police or other officials.
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By approximately 3:50am the political activity eased. The programme director announced a private viewing of Silindile’s body for family, friends, and relatives.
Sorrow swept through the gathering, cries erupted as loved ones approached the coffin. The viewing ended at 4:11am. Tributes resumed at 4:22am where friends, siblings, church members and relatives spoke of her life amid heavy grief. Her mother wept uncontrollably at times, steadied by those beside her.
The procession to the gravesive began at 5:22am and a hearse from Dups carried the coffin from the sports ground to the family homestead. Political songs broke out again along the way among sections of the followers.
At the graveside, the praise team opened with funeral-appropriate gospel hymns such as ‘Kanye Nawe Nkosi’. Political formations then joined with “Nkosi Sikelela iAfrica” and other political anthems.
The coffin was lowered in the customary manner, triggering intense wailing. Some mourners fainted from the depth of their pain, while others cried without restraint.
Mourners were invited to cast sand into the grave as a final mark of respect. A brief sermon, short speeches and a closing prayer followed. The ceremony concluded with lingering strains of political songs from parts of the crowd.
This politicisation stood in direct contrast to the family’s earlier appeals. During a visit by senior police officers led by Regional Commander Charles Simelane on Tuesday, family representatives, including brothers Nkululeko Sakhamuzi Dlamini, Dumisani Ray Dlamini, and others, spoke to reporters.
They called for peace, unity, respect and privacy as they mourned their loved one. They stressed that they had not authorised anyone to speak for them and urged the public to avoid defamatory statements or misinformation.
Silindile, 28, was reportedly seven months pregnant when she was shot. She was a passenger in a vehicle that did not stop at a joint checkpoint run by the police and army.
Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini confirmed the incident arose from the security exercise, expressed condolences and noted that investigations were ongoing.
In the end, the burial blended private grief with public expressions of dissent.
