Crime

MBABANE – The Home Affairs officer accused of having assisted controversial South African businessman Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala to fraudulently obtain an Eswatini identity ID card has been suspended from duty.

Nonhlanhla Malambe, who is stationed in the Civil Registry Department, was served with a suspension letter by the Civil Service Commission (CSC), pending investigations into her role in the matter.   She was suspended as per Section 58 of the Public Service Act of 2018, which outlines the process for suspending a public officer. It states that a disciplinary hearing can only be instituted after preliminary investigations have been conducted and that suspension is permissible under these circumstances.

Malambe has been linked with the issuance of the national ID that listed Matlala under the surname Dlamini of Motshane.  The document bears Matlala’s photograph, which is the same image widely circulated in South African media. Malambe’s suspension was confirmed by the Communication’s Officer in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mlandvo Dlamini.

In an earlier interview with this publication, Malambe insisted she never received any form of benefit from the transaction.

She claimed she acted in good faith after being approached by a relative, and maintained she did not know who Matlala was when she assisted him.

Her suspension comes after months of investigations into how Matlala, who is facing corruption, money laundering and attempted murder charges in South Africa, obtained local documents under questionable circumstances.

Last month, this publication exposed that Matlala is listed in Eswatini’s registry as the second-born child of Christinah Thembi Shongwe of Motshane.

However, Shongwe’s actual second-born child is not Matlala, leaving authorities puzzled as to how his details appeared in her family profile. His father’s details are also missing from the registry entry.

The National Commissioner (NATCOM) of Police, Vusi Manoma Masango, recently revealed that the probe into the matter was almost complete. He confirmed that investigators were preparing to travel to South Africa to gather further evidence, including copies of documents held by the South African Police Service (SAPS).

The suspension of Malambe follows mounting scrutiny over the alleged illicit networks that enabled Matlala to acquire documents in Eswatini.

The Royal Science and Technology Park (RSTP) has also been investigating whether some of its employees colluded with Home Affairs officials in facilitating the fraudulent registration.

One of the employees, who is suspected to have colluded with some Home Affairs officials was placed on special leave pending investigations.

Meanwhile, proceedings at the Madlanga Commission in South Africa continue to shed light on Matlala’s extensive links.

Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo, Commander of South Africa’s ground forces against organised crime, told the inquiry that Matlala was stored as Dlamini in the cellphones of his close associates.

Matlala, currently incarcerated at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Facility in Pretoria, was recently denied bail. Magistrate Syta Prinsloo ruled that his release would not be in the interest of justice, citing the serious nature of the charges against him.

During a previous interview, Malambe was almost in tears as she narrated that the man she recently came to know as Matlala, was in the company of her relative when she came to her workplace seeking assistance with obtaining a local ID.

Full article available in our publication.

Controversial South African businessman Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala. (Pic: File)