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SWAZI OBSERVER (Mbabane, Swaziland) 10 January 11 Another boy escapes crocodile’s jaws (Sibusisiwe Ngozo)
15-year-old Mvelo Dlamini has lived to tell how he was saved from the jaws of death when he came face to face with a crocodile.
His friend, Machawe Mafuleka (15,) is now the hero in the small community of Matsanjeni. Mafuleka saved his friend from the jaws of the raging crocodile while they were swimming at an irrigation stream. The stream runs along the Matsanjeni area up to Nsoko and Nisela.
The two teenagers were swimming with three friends when the reptile attacked Dlamini, grabbing his right arm. While the three took to their heels, Mafuleka was brave enough to stay behind and save his friend.
As the crocodile got hold of Dlamini’s right hand, Mafuleka went for the left hand and pulled to the opposite direction until the crocodile lost its grip. As they were running for safety the crocodile went for his right leg and ripped off the tissues but they managed to escape. According to a source it was a miracle that the Mafuleka was able to save his friend from the raging reptile. Dlamini is currently admitted at the Good Shepherd hospital after suffering a fractured arm and damaged tissues between the foot and the leg but the bones were not affected.
In an almost similar heroic act, last Tuesday a 15-year old Sonnyboy Masilela lived to tell the tale after he was attacked by a crocodile while crossing the Mbuluzi River.
He only sustained a few wounds to his neck and head after the crocodile had attempted unsuccessfully to sink its jaws and he further saved his younger brother (8) who was with him inside the river.
Police PRO Superintendent Wendy Hleta confirmed the incident. She further warned the public to be careful when using rivers more especially with the never ending rains.
“We have gathered from experts that crocodiles migrate to smaller streams and rivers when water swells in dams because they feel insecure. So people should be careful when using rivers where the sand is not visible because there maybe crocodiles,” she said.
Hleta said crocodiles have been spotted in rivers such as Black Mbuluzi, Mlumati and in a stream in Sihlutse.
About crocodiles and how to protect yourself:
• A crocodile can spend about one to two hours studying its prey very well and monitoring its movement.
• A crocodile can travel about one to two kilometers looking for food.
• In deep waters and flooded rivers they tend to swim against the water flow to find safe places.
• Avoid murky waters
Another boy escapes crocodile’s jaws

TIMES OF SWAZILAND (Mbabane) 13 January 11 Rangers catch crocodile that attacked boy (16) (Sibongile Sukati)
Mbabane: Game Rangers from Big Game Parks have caught a large crocodile suspected to have attacked a 16-year-old boy on Sunday.
The crocodile, which measures 3.6m, was caught on the same length of irrigation canal in which Mvelo Gumbi survived the attack.
According to a press release from the Big Game Parks, on Sunday the game rangers based at Mkhaya Game Reserve positioned a trap close to the point where Gumbi was attacked.
The rangers worked around the clock to capture the crocodile.
"On Monday morning when the trap was checked it was found that somebody had tampered with the trap and the door was closed," read the statement.
Big Game Parks said on Tuesday, the same thing happened, but this time somebody had tied the door open so that it could not close and the crocodile was seen close by in the water.
"This lack of co-operation by these unknown individuals is condemned as these actions frustrate progress and are in nobody’s interests," stated the press release.
According to the statement, yesterday, an arrangement was made with the owners of the canal to stop the water flow while a team of game rangers and police officers located the crocodile in the canal when the water level dropped.
"At this point the ran- gers and police managed to secure a rope and net on the crocodile which attempted to escape viciously but the collective efforts of the team saw the animal being safely loaded onto the vehicle and removed to one of the natio- nal parks," said Big Game Parks.
Although the canal is in the lowveld and despite the fact the crocodile has been removed, people are advised not to swim in it as there are likely to be more crocodiles in the area.
Big Game Parks further wished Gumbi a speedy recovery and said crocodiles have inhabited all the rivers and major water bodies in the lowveld and middleveld for millions of years.
"It is therefore impractical to capture every crocodile that is seen," read the statement.
Big Game Parks further advised, if a crocodile poses a danger to people or livestock, it should be reported to the nearest police station or to Big Game Parks so that appropriate action can be taken.
"Crocodiles are royal game and therefore well protected in Swaziland.
"One should not be tempted to take the law into their own hands as the capture, killing, transport, possession and keeping of all protected animals in Swaziland requires a Game Act Permit," read the state-ment.
Rangers catch crocodile that attacked boy