PM’S WIFE LOMVULA APPOINTED ACTING DPP

MBABANE - Lomvula Hlophe, the wife to Prime Minister Cleopas Dlamini, has been appointed the Acting DPP.

Lomvula’s appointment by His Majesty King Mswati III was announced by the Chairman of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), Chief Justice (CJ) Bheki Maphalala, yesterday. The CJ said Lomvula would hold the reins in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) while the indisposed Phila Dlamini received medical attention.
Maphalala expressed hope that with Lomvula as acting DPP, her office would work hand-in-hand with the Judiciary and, among other things, help deal with the shortage of prosecutors.

Lomvula was previously a Principal Crown Counsel in the Office of the DPP before being elevated to the position of Under Secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources. As Crown Counsel, Lomvula was the head of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Unit.  She was also responsible for cases which touched on human trafficking and people’s smuggling.

She is the daughter of King Sobhuza II’s daughter, Princess Dutoit. This means she is a niece to King Mswati III.
Her father is the late former Statesman, Abednego Kuseni Hlophe, popularly known as AK. Lomvula is known for her no-nonsense approach when it comes to issues of gender-based violence and children. When the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence (SODV) Act 15/2018 was being piloted, she was the one sensitising the public and legislators about it. One of the cases she is currently handling is that of Pastor Themba Masimula.
Masimula, who is also a teacher, is accused of killing his wife, Funekile, who was burnt to death inside a motor vehicle.

Disappeared

Lomvula is also leading the prosecution in the murder trial of Patrick Bhubesi Shongwe, who is a police officer. Shongwe, however, disappeared when the trial was supposed to start on November 1, 2021. A warrant of arrest against him was issued but he is still at large. The acting DPP is also prosecuting in the case of Mpendulo Mcolisi Msibi, who is facing 21 charges of rape and murder. Other pending cases which are being prosecuted by her include that of Talos, the Mozambican national who is accused of raping many women at Checkers, Mbabane. She is also prosecuting in the matter of the soldier who allegedly hired people to kill his wardress wife. Lomvula also prosecuted in the matter where a 13-year-old girl was allegedly sexually abused by her Mozambican father on numerous occasions and she fell pregnant.

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