MBABANE:King Mswati’s Praise Singer Sandile ‘Msandi Kababa’ Nxumalo has been reported to the Nkhanini based Ingwenyama Cup Cultural Committee for allegedly demanding and collecting bribes from culture groups across the country, promising to assist them win the ongoing tournament.
A document seen by this Swaziland News suggests that, Nxumalo was reported by Thembinkosi Nkonyane, the Managing Director of Corban Electrical who was leading a Cultural Group from Ngculwini Royal Kraal, Nkonyane has been supporting sponsoring eSwatini cultural activities for the past few years.
“We ended-up finding solid proof that Nkosinathi Sandile Mark Nxumalo had a negative influence on the issuing of Sibhaca results. And that is why Ngculwini, had to take this initiative and request for the review of results in particular the score sheets and have a verbal confirmation from Judges of the day, about their outcomes and conclusion”, reads a letter of complaint dated 18th February 2025 and delivered by Ngculwini Indvuna YeMcuba Musa Soko to the Ingwenyama Cup Culture Committee.
Sandile Msandi Nxumalo, the King’s Praise Singer declined to comment when asked to clarify the allegations leveled against him.
Reached for comments by this Swaziland News on Tuesday, Thembinkosi Nkonyane, the Corban Electrical Managing Director and a resident of Ngculwini confirmed the matter adding that, when they arrived at Nkhanini to report the King’s Praise Singer, they were strictly warned by BatfwaBeNkhosi that, “the matter is sensitive and therefore, it must not reach Zwemart’s attention” as this might tarnish the reputation of the King’s Ingwenyama Cup tournament.
“They told us that, the matter is so sensitive and it must not reach Zwemart’s attention. But we had no other alternative in this country, can you go to the other local publication’s and report such corruption about a King’s Praise Singer siphume lestory?.I was disappointed because I love my culture and my King such that, for the past years, I’ve been supporting cultural activities. Even in the past years, once we win the Ingwenyama Cup Culture Tournament, Msandi would then come back to me and demand ten thousand Rands(R10,000.00) saying he was the one who influenced the Judges to rule in our favour and therefore, we must compensate him, he did this knowing very well that, we won fairly. Now he decided to sabotage us, ngiyo-ke lentfo lekuhlalwe kukhalwa ngayo ngalabantfu labalapha eceleni kweNkhosi, they are messing-up the King’s tournament now. Nawutsi uyakhuluma wetfuswe kutsiwe sewulwa neNkhosi,” said the Corban Director.
Efforts to reach Ingwenyama Cup Culture Committee Chairman Prince Hlangabeza proved unsuccessful successful as his cellphone rang unanswered on Tuesday evening.
On another note Nkonyane said, even before the announcement of the Ingwenyama Cup Culture Tournament results for the Manzini Region, some Judges who were fed-up with the King’s Praise Singer’s alleged corruption, informed them and the children who participated in the tournament that, Ngculwini was supposed to be number one(1) but, Msandi intimidated them using the King’s name, not to rule in Ngculwini’s favour.
Indeed, this Swaziland News is in possession of audio recordings as some of the Ingwenyama Cup Culture Tournament Judges communicated through voice notes when reporting Msandi Nxumalo for alleged corruption.
In the recordings, the Judges are confirming that, ‘Msandi Kababa’ intimidated them not to rule in favour of Ngculwini even though the Ngculwini Sibhaca team performed very well.
Ngculwini has been winning the Culture Tournament for the past years and,it is alleged that, the King’s Praise Singer would then demand a bribe from the leaders of the Sibhaca team, saying it was him who influenced the Judges to rule their favour.
Corruption is reportedly rife within the King’s circles as those close to Mswati “use his name to engage in alleged corrupt activities with impunity”.
King’s Praise Singer Sandile Msandi Nxumalo.