MBABANE:Secret documents sourced from Army Commander Moses Mashikilisane Fakudze’s Office suggest that, he has removed Lieutenant Tengetile Khumalo and appointed Sandile Gwebu as the new Army Spokesperson.
This disclosure comes after this Swaziland News reported earlier on Tuesday morning that, the Army Commander held a secret meeting with some Commanding Officers close to him where he plotted to remove Khumalo, the meeting according to information gathered by this publication from senior Army sources, took place on Monday afternoon.
But the documents further suggest that, Lieutenant Tengetile Khumalo has been transferred to the Research and Development Department as a Research Officer, her removal as the Public Relations Officer(PRO) comes after she allegedly refused to pay two hundred and seventy Rands(R270.00) as “litiya la-Commander”.
The Army Commander has been forcing all soldiers to contribute money from fifty to five hundred Rands(R50.00-R500.00) depending on seniority within the Umbutfo Eswatini Defense Force(UEDF).
“Maj Sandile Gwebu transferred from Garrison Unit to DHQ as Deputy Director Force Communication/PRO. Lt Tengetile Khumalo appointment as PRO has been revoked and transferred to Research and Development Department as Research Officer,” reads the documents in part.
Efforts to reach the Army Commander for a comment proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report, his cellphone rang unanswered.
It has been disclosed that, among other reasons, the Army Commander removed Lieutenant Tengetile Khumalo accusing her of being linked to former Army Commander Lieutenant General Jeffrey Shabalala’s faction.
New Army Spokesperson Major Sandile Gwebu who doubles as the Young Buffaloes Spokesperson is highly expected to be formally introduced to the State controlled media.
New Army Spokesperson Major Sandile Gwebu.