MBABANE:Sifiso Khumalo, the Attorney General(AG) has forwarded a legal bill of one hundred and three thousand, seven hundred and forty(R103,740.00) to Swaziland News editor Zweli Martin Dlamini in the widely reported Mpumalanga Court case with Government.
Even though the editor won the case, Government had previously won legal costs in February 2024 after the editor requested for a postponement to enable him to secure services of new lawyers.
“I will wait for a directive from my legal team, otherwise the money is ready and the Attorney General and Government will be paid what is due to them. In such matters, you act on the advice or directive of your legal team,” said the editor.
On another note, the editor is highly expected to forward his own legal bill of costs to Government and King Mswati.
Dlamini said the reason “he respects court orders and pay what is due to Government lawyers is that, he respects the rule of law and wants Government to do the same when it’s time to pay him”.
Furthermore, the editor said “he fully understands that, the matter was never about the prayers in the Notice of Motion but it was a strategic litigation meant to force him to pay lawyers with the hope that, he will eventually become financially broke and close the Swaziland News”.
But the editor said, all the monies paid to Government in this matter, will be recovered as he won the matter with costs at the Mpumalanga High Court.
Attorney General Sifiso Khumalo(pic: Gov).