MBABANE: King Mswati has paid R120,000.00 as security of legal costs in the matter between him, eSwatini Government and Swaziland News editor Zweli Martin Dlamini.
This comes after the editor filed papers in the High Court of South Africa in terms of Rule 47 demanding that the King and his Government must pay at least one million(R1000 000.00) as security of costs, however, the King through his lawyers from Brian Kahn Inc Attorneys offered R120,000.00.
“We hereby accept your client’s tender for security of costs in the sum of R120 000.00 which we confirm shall be paid into your trust account. We request written confirmation once you have received payment. Our client disputes the legal principles pertaining to security for costs, as set out in your letter, and has accepted the tender purely to avoid delaying the matter unduly”, read the letter from the editor’s lawyers addressed to King Mswati’s Attorneys.
The editor’s lawyers further indicated that Dlamini has engaged the services of three Advocates including a Senior Advocate adding that he might again demand costs for all the three Counsel.
“Due to the complex legal issues that fall to be determined and the grave importance of the matter, our clients have engaged the services of three Counsel including Senior Counsel. At the conclusion of the matter, our client shall seek the costs of all three Counsel”,read a letter from Bukhosi Sibanda Attorneys in Johannesburg who represent the editor and this Swaziland News.
Responding to the letter from the editor’s lawyers through their Attorneys from Brian Kahn on 25th July 2021, the King and eSwatini Government confirmed that a payment of R120,000.00 has been paid into the trust account of the their lawyers.
“We have in fact received the sum of R120 000.00(one hundred and twenty thousand rand) in our trust account and are now establishing a separate account as per the provisions of paragraph 2.4 of our email to you of 29 June 2021. This should be attended to within the next day or two and once done, we will confirm same in writing with you”, read an email from the King and eSwatini Government lawyers.
King Mswati took the editor of this Swaziland News to the High Court of South Africa over the ongoing critical articles, the editor is now expected to file his answering affidavit.
King Mswati and Swaziland News editor Zweli Martin Dlamini