STOLEN NKOYOYO PALACE JEWELLERY RECOVERED IN SA

MBABANE – The jewellery worth E800 000 that was stolen at Nkoyoyo Palace was reportedly recovered in the Republic of South Africa where it had been sold to a jewellery shop and individuals.

This is contained in the indictment which was filed by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Phila Dlamini, at the High Court yesterday.  The filing of the indictment by the DPP means that the Crown is now ready to prosecute the duo of Nokulunga ‘Zambane’ Simelane and Zandile Malinga.

The items which were allegedly stolen by the two royal aides include two gold Jacobs watches valued at E400 000, a Jacobs necklace valued at E100 000, a Jacobs ring valued at E100 000, Swavroski bracelet valued at E50 000, Swavroski necklace valued at E50 000, a pair of earrings valued at E50 000 and Swavroski necklace valued at E50 000. 

The items are said to have been in lawful possession of Phangisile Mngometulu. 

In a statement made under oath, one of the witnesses to be paraded by the Crown, Mncedisi Tsabedze, spilt the beans.  Tsabedze was reportedly present when the jewellery was sold in the Republic of South Africa. 

Disclosed

He disclosed how he got involved in the deal, how much each item was sold for in South Africa and to whom, including the amount each of them received.

He submitted that in December 2019 while at New Mall, Mbabane, he met one of the accused (Zambane), who is his childhood friend. 

According to the witness, the accused informed him that she needed assistance in selling expensive original jewellery which was given to her by her mother at Nkoyoyo Royal Palace. 

Tsabedze alleged that Zambane told him that she was approaching him because she knew that he frequented the Republic of South Africa as he buys and sells cars.

He alleged that he told Zambane that he would contact Lihle Dlamini who had contacts concerning the black market of jewellery in Johan- nesburg.

The witness recounted that in February 2020, he received a phone call from Zambane informing him that she was ready to go and sell the jewellery which her mother had given her as she was broke.  

Hired

The witness said indeed in mid-February, in the company of the accused, Mayenziwe who is Zambane’s boyfriend and Zikalala, who had been hired to drive, they proceeded to Johannesburg only to find that the jewellery shops did not open on Saturdays.

Tsabedze claimed that he had seen the ring that was to be sold from pictures which Zambane had shown to him.

He averred that it was a white gold ring coated with diamonds and with a purple centre piece.

Operate

“Having found that the jewellery shop did not operate on Saturday, Zambane then removed the gold ring from her finger and sold it to a certain Kyle, a South African, for E5 000 and thereafter we returned to the Kingdom of Eswatini. He gave me and Lihle Dlamini E200 to share,” alleged the witness.

He narrated that on Sunday of the same weekend he received a phone call from Zambane who told him that she had arranged that they returned to Johannesburg to sell the jewellery.

“Upon arrival I saw the gold ring to be sold and a bracelet that was in a white box.  Lihle called his contact, Pupu, who went inside the shop with Zambane and when they returned the former informed us that though the value  of the jewellery was E250 000, E70 00 was to be paid in cash and the rest was to be deposited into her account,” reads part  of  Tsabedze’s statement.

Zambane is reported to have given the witness and Lihle E1 000 each and after two weeks she (Zambane) gave them E5 000 each.

The witness went on to disclose that during the month of March 2020, he received a call from the second accused (Zandile) who requested him to visit her at Fonteyn.  

Sell

He alleged that upon arrival at Fonteyn, Nokulunga informed him that she had seen a deposit notification message of E110 000 on Zambane’s cellphone and that she heard that they had been to Johannesburg to sell jewellery.

Nokulunga is said to have disclosed to this witness that she stole some jewellery from Zambane’s bag and he also wanted to sell same in Johannesburg. The jewellery included bracelets, necklaces, earrings and chains.

The witness stated that he took the jewellery and contacted Lihle.  

He alleged that towards the end of March 2020 they proceeded to Johannesburg where they met Pupu to facilitate the sale. According to the witnesses, together with Pupu, they sold the jewellery which was a set of white earrings with a diamond centre piece and they were paid E55 000. 

“After the sale, Pupu was given E10 000, I took E20 000, Lihle got E10 000 and Nokulunga was given E10 0000. The jewellery that was deemed valueless was returned to Zandile,” he stated.

The accused are both currently out on bail.

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