By Musa Mdluli

MBABANE:Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo has left public office after the expiry of his contract on Monday.

When Nxumalo bounced back last week, releasing a ‘sub judice’ press statement, saying Government will interfere in the SwaziMed matter currently pending in court, this publication contacted the relevant sources in Cabinet to verify if Nxumalo was back in public office and it was clarified that, he was actually advised to go on leave after being charged for rape.

The official said Nxumalo systematically signed leave that was expiring four(4) days before the expiry of his contract, he then came back and “demanded to release any press statement” saying he was still the Government Spokesperson.

“After being charged for rape, he was advised to go on leave because his contract was about to expire, otherwise if that was not the case, he was supposed to be charged by the Civil Service Commission(CSC) in terms of Government rules and face a disciplinary hearing. All civil servants who face criminal charges are then subjected to a disciplinary hearing. You can contact the CSC to verify this. Abebuyele kutomenesa nje his critics wati kahle kutsi ngeke asasebente anelicala lelinjena lekudlwengula”, said one of the Government officials.

Efforts to reach the fallen former Government Spokesperson proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.

On another note, as previously reported by this Swaziland News, Thabile Mdluli is the Acting Government Spokesperson.