Africa-Press – Eswatini. Nanikie Mnisi,the Principal Secretary(PS) in the Ministry of Education and Training is allegedly refusing to approve payment due to a company awarded a tender to provide catering services during the recently held Graduation Ceremony graced by King Mswati.
Documents suggest that on the 6th October 2025, the Principal Secretary wrote to the Eswatini Government Tender Board requesting approval for seventy thousand Rands(R70,000.00) being monies that was to be paid to the Shephard Brothers trading as “TSB Caterers”, the company was recommended by royal security experts and the Ngwane College Management to provide the catering services as the event was graced by the King.
But despite the recommendation, the PS attempted to engage Thingo Investment, a catering company owned by businesswoman Gcebile Shabangu who allegedly ‘bribed’ the Principal Secretary and soon thereafter, both of them colluded and attempted to grab the tender on the ‘eleventh hour’ from the recommended catering company-“TSB Caterers”.
The Ngwane Teachers Training College Administrators rejected the PS’ company and directed that, the catering services be provided by the company that was screened by royal security experts and the Ngwane College Management, this triggered tension between the Ngwane College and the Principal Secretary.
Worth-noting, businesswoman Gcebile Shabangu emerged from no-where demanding to be allowed to cook for the guests and the graduates saying, she “bribed the PS who awarded her the tender”.
Nsindiso Mndawe is the Manager at the Shephard trading as TSB Caterers, he confirmed on Tuesday evening that “the PS is now refusing to pay his company” without any valid reason.
“I can confirm that PS Nanikie Mnisi is now refusing to pay, she wanted her own Catering company that bribed her”, said the Manager.
Principal Secretary Nanikie Mnisi had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
On another note, the PS allegedly wrote “show cause letters” to the Administrators of the Ngwane Teachers Training College, thretening to discipline them for refusing to allow the company of her choice to provide the catering services.
Efforts to seek a comment from the Ngwane College Administrators proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.
Principal Secretary Nanikie Mnisi is ‘fresh’ from a public spat with Education and Training Minister Owen Nxumalo but, the Minister subsequently engaged the PS for the sake of peace and progress within the Ministry.
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