MORE SUGAR CANE FIELDS SET ABLAZE AT VUVULANE

SITEKI - More sugar-cane fields belonging to the Royal Swaziland Sugar Corporation (RSSC) were burnt on monday night, causing damage in the region of E500 000.

This follows the burning of 63 hectares of sugar cane fields belonging to the same company over the past weekend; a sabotage act which RSSC said caused a damage of about E1 million.

It was gathered that about 27 hectares of cane fields, situated around Vuvulane, were set ablaze by unknown people on Monday night.
This is despite the presence of officers from the security forces who had been deployed over the weekend to guard all RSSC sugar cane fields situated around Vuvulane.

A source said the officers guarding the fields were puzzled when they saw some of the fields go up in flames during the thick of the night. “They immediately called firefighters from RSSC who promptly arrived to douse the flames. However, by the time they arrived a lot of damage had allegedy been caused,” said the source.

Police Assistant Information and Communications Officer (ICO) Assistant Superintendent Khulani Mamba confirmed that some cane fields belonging to RSSC were set ablaze by unknown people on Monday night.

Mamba said police were still investigating the matter and had not yet arrested any suspect in connection with the incident.
Meanwhile, RSSC Public Affairs Manager Sifiso Nyembe also confirmed the incident, saying: “The sugar cane that was burnt covered land of approximately 27 hectares, causing damage in the region of E500 000.

“We are thankful to the police and other forces for their continued support. RSSC employees and officers from the Royal Swaziland Police again worked together to ensure that the damage was minimised.”

Police have not yet been able to establish who may be behind these acts of sabotage but it is widely believed that sympathisers of the seven Vuvulane farmers who have been arrested for defying a court order may have done this.
The arrested farmers are: Cabangelembili Mamba, Phineas Sengwayo, Richard Nkambule, Petros Xaba, Thulani Maziya, Phila Nhleko and John Mabuza.

They were arrested last Wednesday.
They are alleged to have entered portion 28 of farm 850 at Vuvulane, an act which is against the content of High Court case No 1065/14.
Last Tuesday, the High court ruled that the farmers should vacate the aforementioned farm following an application by RSSC.

They are currently in custody after they were remanded by Simunye Magistrate Philisiwe Dlamini on Monday morning.
 
 
 
 
 

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