By Zweli Martin Dlamini

LOZITHA:King Mswati allegedly received R1.5million bribe from David Van Niekerk, the Director of Ecsponent Eswatini who is implicated in the widely reported disappearance of R340million investments belonging to members of the public.

An independent investigation conducted by this Swaziland News uncovered that,the businessman who held a secret meeting with the absolute Monarch in February 2024,first transferred the money to his alleged right-hand man private investigator Nkosingphile Mbhamali, five hundred thousand Rands(R500,000.00) was then transferred by Mbhamali directly to Mswati through the King’s First National Bank(FNB) “Ingwenyama Special Call” account.

Documents in possession of this publication suggest that, Christopher Gamedze, the Director-Finance in the King’s Office first prepared a document directing David Van Niekerk to transfer the money to the King’s FNB account number seen by this publication.

The King’s Office document that was allegedly used to facilitate the transfer of the alleged bribe from Niekerk to Mswati further suggests that, Christopher Gamedze signed on behalf of Chief Mgwagwa Gamedze, the Chief Executive Officer(CEO) in the King’s Office.

But it is alleged that, Niekerk first made the transaction to Mbhamali’s FNB account and, the Private Investigator subsequently made the bank electronic transfer to Mswati in what “appears to be a well-syndicated” move by David Van Niekerk to seek the King’s intervention in sabotaging the ongoing high level investigation into the disappearance of the public funds at Ecsponent.

The matter is being vigorously handled by various law enforcement agencies including the Anti Corruption Commission(ACC).

When questioned by this publication, Nkosingphile Mbhamali who “is allegedly wanted by the Anti Corruption Commission, declined to comment and clarify whether he transferred the said amount to Mswati on behalf of businessman Dave Van Niekerk, he referred comments to his lawyer Kwanele Magagula. 

“No comment, please contact my lawyer”, he said.

But Mbhamali had previously confirmed that,the ACC including the police arrived at his house-Ezulwini on Thursday as the investigation intensifies, sources “say the ACC wanted Mbhamali to spend the weekend behind bars” but they couldn’t find him as he was in South Africa on a business trip.

An independent investigation conducted by this publication further uncovered that, apart from the R500,000.00 allegedly transferred by Mbhamali to the King’s FNB account, another R1million in cash was presented to Mswati as a bribe disguised as “setfulo”.

The cash was allegedly delivered by Mbhamali at Lozitha Palace and accepted by King’s Protocol Officer Khandlela Mdluli on behalf of the absolute Monarch.

Even though the R1million was allegedly wrapped in a box, this Swaziland News has electronic evidence in a form of a cellphone communication alleging that, the box was containing R1million in cash and, the evidence further alleges that, shortly after Khandlela Mdluli accepted the box, Mbhamali then went-in to meet His Majesty the King and this,happened around February 2024.

Preliminary findings of this independent investigation suggests that, this then brings the total amount of the alleged bribes received by the King from R340million Ecsponent ‘suspect’ Dave Van Niekerk to R1.5million.

But King Mswati’s Spokesperson Percy Simelane, when responding to this Swaziland News, dismissed these allegations as yet another baseless accusation against the King.

Simelane said the Monarch normally “meets different people” including those accused of wrongdoing as this comes with the responsibility of being a Head of State.

“We shall ask that evidence be shared so that we base our argument on it.Without evidence the claim continues to be yet another baseless accusation by his critiques meant for cheap audiences for reasons known best to the accusers.To the best of our knowledge the King is above taking  bribes to protect suspects if the gramatic meaning of this English verb is anything to go by.The King's diary has scores of meetings with people of different backgrounds every year.Meeting all sorts of people, including those who are suspected of sins,comes with his responsibility as a leader.Biblically, when Lord Jesus visited Jerusalem , he spent the night at Zakius’ house and not at a Cathedral. This was a projection of non-judgemental leadership.We believe the February meeting in question was simple another routine engagement with a businessman who wanted to see him.Again, we shall wait until evidence is shared”, said the King’s Spokesperson.

Jabu Phakathi, the Spokesperson of the Anti Corruption Commission declined to comment about the matter.

But as the investigation intensifies, businessman Dave Van Niekerk was “red flagged” by the Ministry of Home Affairs acting on alleged instructions from the relevant law enforcement agencies “who wanted him to remain in the country pending investigations”.

The businessman used other means to leave the country at the time when he, according to sources, was about to be arrested in connection with the disappearance of the public funds.

But after his meeting with Mswati and the subsequent payment of the alleged bribe, Dave Van Niekerk continued not to frequent the country,he only made a surprise return after receiving a letter informing him that he was no longer red flagged.

A person who is “red flagged” in the Government immigration systems “is normally of special interest to the police and other law enforcement agencies”, the immigration computer systems reflects ‘red’ wherever that particular person crosses the boarder using a passport.

Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo declined to comment about the matter.

But as Dave Niekerk was busy ‘playing’ the game of power in an effort to evade accountability of the R340million public funds, on or around 12th August 2024, another bank electronic transfer of three hundred thousand Rands(R300,000.00) was allegedly made by Niekerk through his right-hand man Nkosingiphile Mbhamali and this time, the money was allegedly transferred to Bishop Robert Karaso, the husband to Home Affairs Minister Princess Lindiwe.

It is alleged that,the payment was actually directed to the Home Affairs Minister and, meant to influence the removal of the red flag notice against Van Niekerk within the Government computer systems at the Ministry of Home Affairs.

As a result, subsequent to the payment made to Bishop Robert Kasaro, Home Affairs Minister Princess Lindiwe through Mthokozisi Dlamini, the Chief Immigration Officer(CIO) wrote a letter dated 17th September 2024, removing the red flag against Dave Van Niekerk.

“This serves to assure you and your family hindrance free entrance to the Kingdom of Eswatini”, reads the letter in part.

Bishop Robert Kasaro and his wife Home Affairs Minister Princess Lindiwe declined to comment about the matter.

A questionnaire was sent to businessman Dave Viekerk however, he had not responded at the time of the of compiling this report.

The over R300million Escponent investment scandal “is currently being handled by the ACC, the police, Central Bank, Parliament and Cabinet among other institutions”.

But all these institutions seem to be divided on whether to arrest Dave or not particularly, after a forensic investigation commissioned by the Central Bank cleared the businessman of any wrongdoing in the over R300million Ecsponent scandal.

The Central Bank report allegedly contradicts other previous reports that implicated the businessman in the Ecsponent scandal.