Times Of Swaziland: MAKHUBU FOUND GUILTY ON 80 COUNTS

MAKHUBU FOUND GUILTY ON 80 COUNTS
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 BY KWANELE DLAMINI on 01/02/2018 01:06:00


MBABANE – Simeon Makhubu has been convicted on 80 counts. Judge Mbutfo Mamba
yesterday found the former Mhlatane High School head teacher guilty contravening
Section 24 (1) and (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 3 of 2006.
He defrauded his former school a sum of E1 745 250. None of this money has been
paid back to the school.
Makhubu gave this money to a woman who is now deceased, Sijabu Temnkitsi
Dlamini. She deceived him that the money was borrowed by an inkhosikati who
would pay it back.
In his judgment, Judge Mamba said it was clear that Makhubu (58) lied in his
evidence when he said he believed that the money would be repaid to the school
or that there was any undertaking to pay it back.
Makhubu testified that as a Swazi, he could not say no to instructions from
royalty; meaning that he was compelled to make the payments.
“Even for the moment that the first accused (Makhubu) honestly believed that
he was acting on superior orders, these orders were manifestly unlawful,
outrageous and most unreasonable. No one is expected to obey orders from
whatever quarter – that are unlawful and grossly unreasonable,” the judge
said.
Makhubu admitted that he made payments to Temnkitsi and that he did so because
he believed that she had been instructed by a person he thought was an
inkhosikati.
The judge considered that the monies were taken from the school coffers and not
used for purposes meant to benefit the school. Temnkitsi, according to the
judge, did not give Makhubu any receipts for the money he gave her.