Africa-Press – Eswatini. The civil servant who allegedly colluded with her husband to defraud government E5 million has been suspended from work.
Khanyisile Gcinokuhle Tshabalala, who is employed by the Ministry of Finance in the Treasury Department, was served with a letter of suspension last Tuesday. This was after she appeared before the Civil Service Commission (CSC), where she was informed about the recommendation by the accountant general to have her interdicted from work. Tshabalala, who was appearing in person, reportedly did not object to the recommendation to have her suspended from work pending conclusion of the internal investigations. During her appearance before the commission, she was informed that her suspension was pending finalisation of internal investigation, instituted by the Treasury Department in terms of Regulation 41 of the Civil Service Board (General) Regulations of 1963.
“You are, therefore, informed that you are suspended from duty on full pay effective immediately pending finalisation of the internal investigations,” reads part of the correspondence.
Tshabalala was further directed to report to the office of the deputy accountant general every Monday, where she would be expected to affix her signature as proof of existence. She was also ordered to surrender all her working tools to the deputy accountant general, with immediate effect. The prosecution recently obtained an order to preserve immovable property and money belonging to the civil servant and her husband Bonginkhosi Dlamini, who is a businessman. The application to preserve the items was made in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA) of 2018. The couple is alleged to have, among other things, used the money to build a lavish double- storey house, situated at Mahebedla and paid school fees for their children in expensive private schools. Some of the money was deposited into one of their children’s bank account.
Meanwhile, during investigations, it was reportedly found that evidence was erased and some files were pilfered. This was disclosed by the Head of Assets Forfeiture Unit, in the office of the director of public prosecutions (DPP), Principal Crown Counsel Elsie Matsebula, in her affidavit. Matsebula also narrated the hardship and resistance they encountered during the investigation. The investigator of the matter on the other hand, Detective Constable Enock Maseko, submitted that during investigations, documentation from the Treasury Department and Central Bank of Eswatini (CBE) detailing the payments were received. He narrated to the court that upon receiving the documentation, he was led to other ministries and departments which included the master of the High Court, Ministry of Economic Planning and Development and the Ministry of Health.
“I received prompt response from the Ministry of Economic Planning pertaining to the payment of E220 000 to Bonginkhosi, which was purported to be compensation for relocating at Sikhuphe. The under- secretary in the ministry provided an affidavit denying instructing the Treasury Department to pay Bonginkhosi such amount,” submitted the investigator. The investigator brought it to the attention of the court that he failed to receive information on time from the Ministry of Health, which cited different reasons for the delay. He highlighted that investigations were continuing in this regard. He went on to tell the court that information was received from the master of the High Court through a memorandum denying knowledge of the transaction of E204 028 paying the estate of Samson Dlamini. He stated that they then prepared a spread sheet of the usage of the funds that were deposited into Bonginkhosi’s bank account.
“I noted a number of suppliers of building materials, which included Macsteel, HC Block yard and a quarry site, to mention a few. I forwarded court orders to the different suppliers seeking information in respect of the payments received from Bonginkhosi’s Opulence bank account,” said Maseko. He brought it to the attention of the court that he promptly received information being an affidavit, invoices and delivery notes from Macsteel. As per the investigator, a further affidavit and invoices were received from HC Block yard. The investigator said he was still waiting for more information from the other suppliers, which would be provided in the forfeiture application in the event they received same.
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