Africa-Press – Eswatini. A daring bank robbery that unfolded quietly in the heart of Manzini is now being described as possibly the biggest and most sophisticated heist in Eswatini’s history. From scattered details emerging from the scene, a chilling picture is beginning to form, one that suggests careful planning, insider knowledge and precise execution.
Like most financial institutions in the country, the Manzini branch closes its doors at midday on Saturdays. Standard procedure requires management to secure the premises, activate alarm systems and ensure that vaults and automated teller machines are fully locked down before staff leave. On Saturday, 7 February 2026, it is alleged that this routine was followed.
Everything appeared normal — until it wasn’t.
As investigators piece together the events, two versions of how the robbery unfolded have emerged.
The first suggests the suspects allegedly smashed a window to gain entry into the bank, subdued the security guard and broke into the ATMs attached to the building before escaping with an undisclosed amount of cash.
Yet this version quickly raised difficult questions. Why were alarms not triggered when intruders entered the building? How did the suspects access keys stored in secure internal locations? And how did they move around the premises undetected?
The second version, widely believed to be more plausible, paints a far more calculated and disturbing picture.
According to preliminary information, the suspects allegedly kidnapped the bank manager from an undisclosed location before travelling with them to the bank. Under duress, the manager is believed to have opened the premises, disabled the alarm system and provided access to the vaults and ATM key storage. Police reportedly discovered a paper containing vault access codes at the scene, strengthening suspicions that the suspects forced insider cooperation to execute the crime.
Investigations suggest the robbery unfolded late Sunday night into the early hours of Monday morning. By the time the incident was reported around 2am Monday, the suspects had already vanished. What makes the operation particularly shocking is the bank’s location. Situated in the centre of Manzini, it lies roughly 100 metres from a police station, surrounded by businesses and near other major banks. A 24-hour food outlet operates across the road, and the area is known to be saturated with surveillance cameras. Despite this, the suspects allegedly tied up the security guard, removed internal cameras, deleted or took critical surveillance data and transferred money from bank money bags into their own bags before fleeing.
Police have reportedly described the operation as clean and highly professional. When the pieces are put together, investigators suspect a carefully orchestrated sequence: selecting a busy location to blend in, kidnapping the manager to bypass alarms, using insider knowledge to access vaults and keys, disabling surveillance systems and timing the operation overnight when activity is minimal. The absence of triggered alarms and the removal of surveillance evidence strongly suggest the suspects relied more on access and knowledge than noise or violence.
The bank has not officially disclosed the amount stolen, but unconfirmed figures circulating among investigators range between E2 million and E10 million. If the higher estimate proves accurate, the incident could become the largest and most silent bank heist ever recorded in Eswatini.
Police have intensified investigations and are reportedly searching for former employee Bongani Mzwandile Arcan Shongwe (39), who has been named as a person of interest. Authorities believe insider knowledge may have played a crucial role in the operation, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The robbery has left the nation asking difficult questions.
How can a major bank be emptied without alarms sounding?
How did suspects operate undetected in one of the busiest areas of Manzini?
Was insider knowledge the key to the entire operation?
What is clear is that this was not a random act. It was allegedly planned, calculated and executed with precision, a silent heist carried out in plain sight.
TIMELINE OF THE SILENT HEIST
Saturday, 7 February 2026 – Midday: The bank closes for the weekend following standard procedure. It is alleged that the manager secures the premises, ensures vaults are locked and activates the alarm system before leaving.
Sunday – Undisclosed Time: Suspects allegedly kidnap the bank manager from an unknown location. Investigators believe this step was crucial to bypassing alarms and gaining legitimate access to the bank.
Sunday Night – Late Hours: The suspects allegedly travel with the manager to the bank and gain entry without triggering alarms. Under duress, the manager is believed to have opened the premises and provided access to vaults and ATM key storage.
Inside The Bank: The security guard is allegedly subdued and tied up. Suspects reportedly obtain vault access codes and open the secure money storage areas.
Surveillance Disabled: Cameras inside the bank are allegedly removed and some surveillance data is taken or deleted to eliminate evidence.
Cash Removal: Money from the vaults is allegedly emptied from bank money bags and transferred into the suspects’ own bags before they flee the scene.
Early Monday Morning – Around 2am: The incident is reported after the suspects have already escaped.
Monday Morning: Police arrive at the scene and reportedly describe the operation as clean and highly professional. Investigations begin, and a former employee is named as a person of interest.
