REVEALED: CLIFFORD BOUGHT GOVT HOUSE AT 30% DISCOUNT

MBABANE – Government has confirmed that former PS in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Clifford Mamba bought the government house at a 30 per cent discount.

This is contained in written responses in the report of the ministry’s portfolio committee on the debate of the ministry’s first quarter performance report for the financial year 2024/2025, tabled in Parliament yesterday. Minister Appolo Maphalala was responding to a question that was previously posed by Mbabane East MP Welcome Dlamini, enquiring why the house was sold to the former principal secretary (PS). “The valuation of the property was E3.2 million (land valued at E2 million and improvements at E1.2 million, respectively). Since when the transaction was concluded, the occupant was still a civil servant; a 30 per cent discount was effected, which is in line with Government General Order A777. After effecting same, the total price of the property was E2 240 000,” revealed the minister through the responses.

Highlighted

The minister also highlighted that as per the Crown Lands Disposal Regulations, the occupant was expected to pay a five per cent deposit (E112 000), before signing of the agreement (deed) of sale. The minister had previously told Parliament that the sale of the house remained an allegation, on the basis that he had not seen the deed of sale and he had an assignment to verify if indeed the house was sold.The minister explained that the sale of pool housing, like all Crown/government property, is governed through The Crown Lands Disposal Act, 1911. The minister, through the response, highlighted that Section 3 empowers the minister to dispose Crown land through sale, lease and grant. He said in addition, the piece of legislation is accompanied by the Crown Lands Disposal Regulations, 2023, which detail how the sale, lease and grant will be carried out by the ministry.

Anticipation

He explained that specifically, the sale was undertaken in anticipation of the sale of pool housing, which was at the time, in the pipeline. He further divulged that the ministry was in the forefront in facilitating this project, which forms part of the Housing the Nation programme. The minister also responded to Dlamini’s question on whether the house was renovated by the Eswatini Housing Board or not. At the time, Dlamini reminded the House that the former PS sat in the Eswatini Housing Board and he wondered if he recused himself from that decision-making body when it authorised the renovation of the house or he was part of that process. The minister explained that the ministry was not aware of the house being renovated by Eswatini Housing Board, as this was a task reserved for the Ministry of Public Works and Transport. “Throughout the deliberations, the occupant recused himself from the process.

Aware

“To date, this is the only property the ministry is aware of to have been sold to a civil servant in anticipation of the sale of government pool housing to civil servants,” said the minister.
He also explained that since the decision to sell or not to sell government pool housing is yet to be confirmed by the new Cabinet, the ministry is of the view that the matter is in abeyance, until further notice. “Otherwise, the disposal of prime land/property is sometimes unavoidable due to the situation on the ground,” responded the minister. It should be stated that previously, Dlamini advised Maphalala to reverse the sale of the government house to the former PS. In response to that, the minister stated that the ministry would be in a position to make an informed decision on the matter once Cabinet has taken a stand.

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