Accused of killing his own son, the 80-year-old Lomshiyo Traditional Council Chief, Tikhontele Dlamini, was granted R7 000 bail by the KaBokweni Magistrate’s Court in Mpumalanga on Monday.

The charismatic traditional leader was arrested on Friday November 4 on suspicion that he had hired a hitman to kill his son, Zwelithini Dlamini, in January, 2021, allegedly over a piece of land he had leased for R2m.

During bail proceedings, the state submitted how an argument between father and son over the piece of land owned by the son had led to his execution in his home in Matsulu last year.

“The state alleges that on or about January 4, 2021, the accused killed his son, Zwelithini Dlamini. The accused is alleged to have leased a piece of land owned by the deceased for an amount of R2m.

“After the son noticed the land was leased, he confronted his father. The state alleges that an argument between the two broke out and after a few days, the son was murdered assassination-style at his home in Matsulu.

The state alleges that the accused hired someone to get him a hitman to kill his son, which led to the death of Zwelithini,” said Adv Bheki Ngwane as he led evidence in court.

Dlamini’s lawyer, Rodney Segage, told the court that his client had not been sleeping well, as prisoners were given sponge matresses in the police holding cells. He said the conditions were unbearable.
Segage said the chief had not been eating the food there, as it was not conducive to his diet, and had his family bring him something to eat.

He told the court that Dlamini was not a flight risk, that he has chronic illnesses, and that he intends to plead not guilty to the charges.

Segage said his client owned more than 20 pieces of land and movable assets and has 23 elder children and a minor.

In his affidavit before court, Dlamini says that he requested police to keep his bodyguard with him, but they refused.