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SOBANTU ACCUSED OF DEFYING KING’S ORDER

18/06/2017 05:06:00 BY WELCOME DLAMINI

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MBABANE - Army Commander Lieutenant General Sobantu Dlamini is reportedly refusing to pay three dismissed soldiers a combined amount of about E20 million despite His Majesty King Mswati III having allegedly issued an order that the payment be effected.

The three, namely Nkosikayikhethi Nxumalo, Vusumuzi Hlatshwako and Mpendulo Mngometulu, were dismissed from the army for allegedly stealing fuel but were exonerated by the court after it ruled in their favour.

Nxumalo, Hlatshwako and Mngometulu want E6.5 million, E7.5 million and E5.8 million respectively, which includes salary payment from date of dismissal to the retirement age, pension payment from date of dismissal to the date of retirement age, constitutional damages and punitive damages for contempt of court/discrimination and unfair/constructive dismissal.

Nxumalo was to retire in November 2018; Mngometulu in June 2015; and Hlatshwako in February 2033.
The army commander is said to have refused to issue the payment, resulting in the trio approaching the Commander-in-Chief, His Majesty the King, through emissary (lincusa) Princess Gcebekile to report their predicament.

The other reason they approached the King is that Dlamini told them they had been dismissed from the army by His Majesty.
Nxumalo says he was present alongside Princess Gcebekile when they had an audience with the King, who ordered that they should be paid the money based on the court order and the retirement age.

Nxumalo said “After Lieutenant General Sobantu Dlamini did not comply with the Royal Command, Princess Gcebekile returned to the King as Commander-in-Chief of the Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force on January 5, 2016. This resulted in Deputy Army Commander Jeffrey Shabalala calling Lieutenant General Sobantu Dlamini to tell him that the King had ordered that we should be paid the full terminal benefits up to 60 years retirement age”.