SWAZILAND SERIAL KILLER CASE TODAY

#SWAZILAND SERIAL KILLER CASE TODAY

The Supreme Court of Swaziland will today hear and determine the appeal case of convicted serial killer David Thabo Simelane. Simelane was convicted for the brutal killing of 28 women and children between 1994 and 2002. Simelane was sentenced to death by hanging after the High Court found him guilty of the offences following the evidence of 83 witnesses who testified against him.  The Supreme Court will also hear the appeal case of Amos Mbedzi who was convicted by the High court of Swaziland for the murder of his two friends who died in an attempt to bomb a bridge in Lozitha.

The Swaziland Supreme Court is composed of four foreign judges and one Swazi judge. The Judicial Services Commission (JSC) of Swaziland in June 2012 confirmed Michael Ramodibedi a Lesotho national to be the Chief Justice of Swaziland much against the provisions of section 157(1) of the Swazi Constitution requiring the localization of such position after seven years from its commencement in 2005. Ramodibedi has been engaged in a wrangle with Swaziland lawyers which resulted to a protracted court boycott last year. Last week the Chief Justice refused to cooperate with the Swaziland Law Society in disciplining a member of the JSC who is alleged to have swindled his clients. 

The independence of the Swaziland judiciary has been put under threat in many instances as the government seems to heavily influence the work of the courts. Last year the Prime Minister of Swaziland treated judges of the High Court to a lunch in celebration of the governments’ 100% success rate in the Supreme Court. The performance of the court this session will demonstrate if the people of Swaziland can still trust the local courts to vindicate their rights.