Home | News | ESTATE ROW: WIDOW ‘SLEEPS’ AT MASTER’S OFFICE, COPS CALLED

ESTATE ROW: WIDOW ‘SLEEPS’ AT MASTER’S OFFICE, COPS CALLED

04/10/2022 08:50:00 Sibusiso Shange

Font size:

MBABANE - Calling the police was the last resort for an accountant at the Master of the High Court Offices after a widowed woman vowed to sleep in the offices until she was paid.

The accountant, who only identified himself as Sithole, sought police assistance after Nonhlanhla Nhlabatsi had made it clear that she would not leave the premises until a share of the late Jahasibili Timothy Nhlabatsi’s estate was deposited into her bank account. When informed about the closing time and requested to leave the premises, Nhlabatsi told Sithole that she was not going anywhere until she got her money. “The law does not allow anyone to sleep in the office. I have to lock the office before I leave. If you fail to comply, I will have no option but to seek assistance from the police,” Sithole told Nhlabatsi. This was after Sithole had acknowledged that Nhlabatsi’s payment was due last week but delayed at the Treasury Department.

Promised

Sithole promised Nhlabatsi that her money would be paid this week. He pleaded with Nhlabatsi to bear with the office, stating that the delay was not by design. He said Nhlabatsi was fully aware that she submitted her claim later than her children, resulting in the delay. Both Nhlabatsi and Sithole confirmed that the children got a share of their father’s estate. However, in response, Nhlabatsi told Sithole that she could not take it anymore since she had heard enough stories regarding the delayed payment of the estate. “I have been massaging you and the time for that is over now. I am not leaving this office until the money is deposited into my bank account. Put yourself in my shoes and apply your mind,” Nhlabatsi told Sithole. She told Sithole that the office had done enough to frustrate her since the death of her husband in 2019. She claimed that she experienced hardship even before the burial of her husband. “You cannot understand my situation unless you put yourself in my shoes. I am not here because I like drama or attention, but I am compelled by circumstances. I am swimming in debt as I live through borrowing money. I started borrowing money to bury my husband. People, including my family members, no longer trust me with their money because I have not repaid the loans,” she said.

She told Sithole that she had developed stress-related illnesses as a result of the delayed payment. She asked Sithole how government arrived at delaying the payment of her husband’s estate because to the best of her understanding, the estate owner left everything in place. “How can government delay the payment while widows and orphans are suffering? Pay my money,” she said. She told Sithole that the only thing she could do was to excuse him from his office. However, she was quick to state that she would sleep on the benches along the passage. She left Sithole’s office at exactly 5:11pm and proceeded to the passage. “The passage forms part of the office and it has to be locked before I leave. I cannot leave you here. It is better that you leave before I call the police. The police will have no option but to take you to the police station,” Sithole told Nhlabatsi.

In response, Nhlabatsi told Sithole that the only person who would remove her from the bench would be the one who supported what the Master of the High Court Office did to her as a widowed woman. During that time, Sithole was in constant communication with his superiors concerning the matter. He then left the office, leaving Nhlabatsi weeping on the bench. He was heard saying; “Ayisasiyo lentfo leyentekako, akuhambi kahle.” The accountant, who had already knocked off, waited for the police at the main entrance. When checked later on, Nhlabatsi was found sleeping at exactly 6:02pm.

A police officer came shortly and proceeded to the passage with Sithole. The officer of the law was later joined by three other officers. There was loud noise as Nhlabatsi refused to leave when ordered to do so by the police. “Do not push me like that; I want my husband’s estate. I am familiar with your face, I will deal with you,” Nhlabatsi told the police officer as she left the main entrance.