Sipho Jele

Who was Sipho Jele?

Sipho Jele was a member of banned Swazi political party People's United Democratic Movement as well as the Swaziland Agricultural and Plantations Workers Union, part of the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions. He died in police custody in Swaziland, after having been arrested on 1 May, 2010, at the SFTU May Day celebrations, for having worn a t-shirt with a Pudemo-logo. Sipho Jele was found hanging from the rafters of a toilet at the Sidvwashini Correctional facility where he was being held on 4 May.

According to Sipho Jele's aunt, who had previously worked as a nurse for 30 years and who saw the body, there were several indications that he had not committed suicide as claimed by the Swazi police, including a swollen face, blood having come out of his nostrils, and the fact that he hadn't soiled himself – as is commonly the case with those who have hanged themselves. The police officers in whose custom Jele was claim they didn't kill him, however, although they admit to have broken protocol on several accounts when arresting and detaining Jele.