Royal Guard Dies in Shooting Incident Ahead of Mswati III Event
A military bodyguard assigned to protect visiting SADC leaders died in a shooting incident at the Royal Villas in Ezulwini, Eswatini.
Lieutenant Colani Mdluli, who served as a guard for King Mswati III and Queen Mother Ntombi Tfwala, died on Sunday morning shortly before Culture Day celebrations at Ludzidzini Palace.
Authorities did not officially comment, but senior army sources and family members confirmed his death. A relative said he had complained about low salaries, though the exact cause of the incident remains unclear.
Mdluli was part of a special security team formed to protect SADC Heads of State attending the King’s 40 years on the throne celebrations.
The event was attended by regional leaders, including Hakainde Hichilema, Jacob Zuma, and Ian Khama, among others.
