By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:Alpheous Nxumalo, the former Government Spokesperson who is facing rape charges ran to court on Thursday afternoon, challenging the constitutionality of Sexual Offenses and Domestic Violence Act(SODOV) that was signed into law by King Mswati.

This is the same law that was used by the police to arrest Nxumalo who stands accused of raping two(2) children, the former Government Spokesperson filed an urgent court application, “seeking an order declaring his arrest unlawful on the basis that, the law that was used to arrest him is unconstitutional”.

Nxumalo challenged the Speaker in the House of Assembly Jabulani ‘Buy Cash’ Mabuza, Senate President Lindiwe Gwebu-Dlamini, Director of Public Prosecution(DPP) Lomvula Hlophe, Principal Magistrate David Khumalo, the Deputy Prime Minister(DPM) Thuli Dladla and Attorney General(AG) Sifiso ‘Mashampu’ Khumalo among others who facilitated the enactment of the SODOV Bill before it was signed into law by King Mswati.

“Setting aside the whole legislation referred to in paragraph 2 above as unconstitutional specifically, for non compliance with the manner and format stipulated by the national Constitution to be observed before the promulgation of a Bill into statute seeking to introduce significant charges into the text of Swazi law and custom in terms of section 115 of the National Constitution,” reads the court papers in part.

Alpheous Nxumalo fell from power after being charged for allegedly raping children across the country but, the police managed to charge him for allegedly raping two(2) children.