MBABANE:Sifiso Mashampu Khumalo, the Attorney General(AG) is allegedly at the centre of the highly syndicated plot to remove Chief Justice(CJ) Bheki Maphalala as Head of the Judiciary.
Even though King Mswati is alleged to have issued the order, directing the Chief Justice to resign, Khumalo who was tasked with engaging Maphalala to resign, “is alleged to be now lobbying to take over the position”.
On the 24th June 2024 and, at the height of of the plot to remove the Chief Justice, this publication reported that, the Attorney General allegedly sent a lawyer from his Office identified as Nokwanda to collect and further deliver some documents to Maphalala, the lawyer sometimes works as a Personal Assistant(PA) in the Office of the AG.
It alleged that, those documents formed part of the highly confidential correspondence in the move to remove the Chief Justice.
Two(2) Judges very close to CJ Bheki Maphalala independently confirmed to this publication that,the Attorney General wants to remove the CJ and, is alleged to be reviewing the recent police salary increment Supreme Court judgement with ulterior motives.
In the process and after filing the Supreme Court review application, the Attorney General is alleged to have then “badmouthed the Chief Justice” within the Governing traditional structures, saying he was now working with those opposing the ruling Tinkhundla regime hence his decision to deliver a judgement that came at a huge cost to Government.
“Mashampu ulingisa Sawula nyalo, kwatsiwa akahambe ayobulala konkhe washiya letinonile watitsatsela kwaba kwakhe. A new Chief Justice was long identified but he now wants the position for himself.Imagine nakungatsiwa Chief Justice sengu Sifiso Khumalo, kungatsengiswa onkhe lama-judgements”, said an insider very close to the matter.
Efforts to reach the Attorney General(AG) proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report as he avoided questions.
But indeed, further information sourced from the corridors of power suggests that, a new Chief Justice who might take over has been identified but, the AG “is now vigorously paving a way to take over the position”.
It is alleged that,in the midst of the power-struggle within the corridors of power, Chief Justice Bheki Maphalala “is considering a meeting with King Mswati to verify the authenticity of the royal order, directing him to resign”.
Percy Simelane,the King’s Spokesperson said he was not aware that the Chief Justice was considering a meeting with the King but, warned of what he described as ‘ghosts authorities within the corridors of power’ using the King’s name to destroy other people’s lives.
“We are not aware of the alleged efforts by Chief Justice Maphalala to see the King on the rumour that he is to resign.If it is indeed true, Protocol will hear him out and see if his case matches the required standards for having an audience with the King.Traditionally,King’s appointees can go and double check with the King if there is rumour that they are about to be relieved of their duties.KUYOBONGA. This helps avoid dismissals by ghost authorities using the King’s name in vain to mess up with other people’s lives for self ends”, said the King’s Spokesperson when responding to this Swaziland News.
Efforts to reach the Chief Justice for a comment proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.
It is alleged that,King Mswati has ordered the Chief Justice to resign and has delayed the appointment of the Judicial Service Commission(JSC) as Maphalala refuses to step down.
Attorney General(AG) Sifiso Khumalo.