By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:Musa Hlatjwako, the Investment Manager of the Public Service Pension Fund (PSPF) is allegedly loaded with with cash, a few months ago he contacted Property Managers in Eswatini demonstrating a desire to buy a property worth over R10million but, in his personal capacity.

But worth-noting, when negotiating the purchasing of the property, Investment Director Musa Hlatjwako allegedly stated that the payment will come from a South African company.

After receiving a tip-off from one of the Property Management company owners who had already prepared a written agreement only for Hlatjwako to change his mind and buy from another company, an independent investigation was then launched by this Swaziland News and it was discovered that, both in Eswatini and South Africa, “the Investment Director normally handles investment deals worth billions on behalf of the Pension Fund”.

It is alleged that, after influencing the multibillion investments deals, some of the companies whose investment proposals were approved by the Pension Fund Investment Board as motivated or recommended by Hlatjwako, would then find indirect ways to ensure that, the bribe reaches Hlatjwako’s ‘pocket’.

A questionnaire was sent to Elkan Makhanya, the Spokesperson of the Public Service Pension Fund after an effort to reach Hlatjwako, however, he had not responded at the time of compiling this report, Makhanya was asked if a lifestyle audit is conducted by the PSPF on senior Managers amid corruption allegations.

On another note, Hlatjwako is alleged to be influential in presenting investment proposals to the PSPF Investment Committee, a statutory body that advices the Board on the investment of the Funds assets.

It has been uncovered that, PSPF Investment Director has bank accounts in South Africa and, it appears that he “handles the flow of the millions very carefully” as the companies allegedly securing investments with PSPF buys properties and other assets on his behalf has part of the alleged indirect bribery chain.