MBABANE: King Mswati has fired Judge Sipho Anthony Nkosi who refused to take various royal orders through the Chief Justice Bheki Maphalala.
Mswati rules eSwatini as an absolute Monarch with Executive, Judicial and Legislative powers. He appoints the Prime Minister, Judges, Ministers and all members of the various Governing Councils.
Before his removal, Judge Nkosi complained in an open court that there was interference in his judicial duties and threatened to spill the beans, at the time, he was handling the high profile murder case involving Sipho Shongwe who allegedly killed businessman Victor Gamedze.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 158 of the The Constitution of Eswatini Act No. 001 of 2005, I Mswati III, King and Ingwenyama of Eswatini hereby remove Sipho Anthony Nkosi as the Judge of the High Court for serious misbehavior with effect from the date of signature of this Notice,” reads a Legal Notice signed by Mswati.
Questions were sent to Chief Justice Bheki Maphalala, however, he had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
On the 16th March 2022, Siphiwo Masuku, the Acting Registrar of the Supreme Court wrote a memorandum with reference R165 to the Attorney General facilitating the removal of Judge Sipho Nkosi.
Judge Sipho Nkosi has been fired by Mswati.