Africa-Press – Eswatini. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has demanded clarity on whether Siteki traffic police officers implicated in financial misconduct involving over E41 000 will be permanently removed from handling police finances.
The concern was raised during a PAC session in the House of Assembly on June 30, 2025, where Police National Commissioner (NatCom), William Vusie “Manoma” Masango, appeared alongside senior security officers to respond to questions regarding how over E188 million was used by the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS).
Dvokodweni MP Sifiso Shabalala, who is a member of the PAC, questioned whether the officers who allegedly failed to bank over E41 000 between December 2024 and February 2025 had been reassigned to roles that no longer involve the handling of money.
In response, NatCom Masango assured the committee that the officers in question have been transferred to other police stations. He also gave assurance that they will no longer manage finances and confirmed that the case has been referred to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for further investigation.
Masango also detailed how the police have so far utilized the over E188 million allocated to the service. He explained that a significant portion of the funds went towards operational costs such as fuel, vehicle maintenance, hiring vehicles for emergency response, and upgrading communication systems.
However, he acknowledged that despite these expenditures, challenges remain especially in terms of transport. “We are operating with vehicles that are over 15 years old in some cases, far beyond the five-year lifespan limit. These cars cost more to maintain and use more fuel, which puts a strain on our finances,” Masango said.
He added that although government did provide a few new vehicles last year, the current fleet is still insufficient as the country have 55 police posts which still lack transport to respond swiftly to emergencies.
Masango appealed for continued and increased support to strengthen police logistics and ensure improved service delivery.
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