By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MAFUCULA:Judge Justice Mavuso’s judgement directing Mafucula Mnyangombili (PTY) Ltd to compensate members of Mafucula sugarcane project who were unlawfully removed from their project,has resulted in the company running to secure a loan from Standard Bank.

This comes after sheriffs intensify moves to implement a writ of execution and attach properties belonging to the sugarcane company after it was discovered that, millions have been looted from the company’s bank account allegedly by BantfwabeNkhosi and some senior members of the sugarcane association.

As widely exposed by this Swaziland News, a greedy group of BatfwabeNkhosi from kaShewula colluded with some senior members of Mnyangombili (PTY) LTD and removed some poor Mafucula members, claiming they did not qualify to be part of the sugar-cane project, with an alleged ultimate intention to grab the project for their own benefit.

The poor members subsequently filed an urgent application in court, but the matter was allegedly sabotaged by Chief Justice Bheki Maphalala for almost four(4) years, resulting to the removed members struggling to pay even school fees for their children.

It was later heard by Judge Justice Mavuso after this Swaziland News consistently reported how the judiciary was protecting BatfwaBenkhosi by sabotaging the case while the poor residents suffer with their children dropping out of school.

The Mafucula residents were receiving about twenty-five thousand Rands(R25,000.00) each per-year from their sugar-cane project.

Over twenty-one (21) members of Mnyangombili (Pty) Ltd who approached this publication after their matter was sabotaged in court subsequently won the case, and they are expected to receive about one hundred thousand Rands (R100,000.00) each after being owed four(4) years in dividends hence, the collective payment owed to them amounts to over R2 million.

But shortly after the judgement issued by Honorable Judge Justice Mavuso, the Management of the sugarcane company, backed by BatfwaBenkhosi rushed to apply for a loan, and according to bank documents in possession of this Swaziland News,Standard Bank urged the company to first settle an outstanding or existing seasonal loan.

“We hereby acknowledge receipt of your request for financial assistance dates 30th April 2024 wherein you requested an amount of SZL2million.Please note that we are working on the request, and please do note that our turnaround time is four weeks. Also note that you will be required to settle the existing seasonal loan before we are in a position to afford the requested facility”, reads the letter signed by Vusi Msweli,the Standard Bank Relationship Manager-Agriculture.

Efforts to seek a comment from Standard Bank Chief Executive Mvuselelo Fakudze proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.

The marathon case that exposes how some members of the ruling royal family,some of whom are traditional leaders within the various communities, abuse their powers,was almost successfully sabotaged within the judiciary.

Lawyer Mangaliso Magagula from Magagula and Hlophe Attorneys previously told this publication that, the matter was sabotaged by the courts and the judgement was delayed with no convincing reasons.

But a resident of Mafucula who spoke to this newspaper on Saturday morning stated that the issue “is currently being handled by lawyers following High Court judgement.

A wife to one of the previously removed residents who alerted this journalist about the matter before this publication exposed it, expressed her distress at witnessing her husband struggling to provide for his family as the matter delayed.

“My husband was taking care of us as his family,now he can’t afford to pay schools. It’s painful to see your man who is a hard worker and a provider struggling because of certain people who abuse their powers to destroy others”, she said.

Reached for comments on Saturday morning on the latest developments, Mnyangombili (Pty) Ltd Chairman Velaphi Richard Maliba confirmed that, the court ordered the company to pay, but said lawyers are communicating with regards to the payment process.

“Lawyers are corresponding regarding the payment process”, said the Mnyangombili sugarcane company Chairman.

On another note,the sugarcane project was established by Mafucula residents who came together to form an association, it was then supported by the European Union (EU).

But after it started to generate millions, BatfwabeNkhosi from KaShewula allegedly abused their traditional powers and removed some residents with an alleged intention to grab the project for their own benefit.