EX-MHLATANE HEAD MAKHUBU RELEASED AFTER 6YRS

MBABANE – Former Mhlatane High School Head teacher, Simeon Makhubu has been released from prison.

Makhubu’s release came after he served six years at Sidwashini Correctional Services facility for fraud. He was released under the programme; Extra Penal Mural Employment. This means that Makhubu will be doing community service at a designated area for the remainder of his sentence. This programme is an initiative overseen by His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS). It provides eligible inmates with the opportunity to complete the remainder of their sentence outside of prison, while doing community service.

Makhubu will now be contributing to a community in an undisclosed location around Mbabane. However, this privilege is contingent upon his adherence to the programme’s conditions.  Any violation could result in his immediate return to prison to serve the rest of his sentence behind bars.The programme is designed for offenders with less than two years remaining on their sentence. Before being selected, inmates undergo a comprehensive assessment to evaluate their rehabilitation progress and potential risk to society. Conditions for eligibility to the programme include being reformed and not being dangerous, among others.Assistant Commissioner Gugulethu Dlamini, HMCS Public Relations Officer, confirmed Makhubu’s release, emphasising his suitability for the programme.

Application

At the time of his release, Makhubu, through his Attorney, Mxolisi Dlamini of Dynasty Inc. Attorneys, was successful in his application for leave to appeal the sentence and subsequently launched appeal proceedings in the Supreme Court. He was accused of defrauding his former school a sum of E1 745 250. Makhubu gave this money to a woman, who is now deceased, Sijabu Temnkitsi Dlamini. She deceived him that the money was borrowed by an inkhosikati, who would pay it back. In his judgment, Judge Mbutfo Mamba said it was clear that Makhubu lied in his evidence when he said he believed that the money would be repaid to the school or that there was any undertaking to pay it back.

Makhubu testified that as a liSwati he could not say no to instructions from royalty, meaning that he was compelled to make the payments. Makhubu faced 80 counts of fraud and theft. He was acquitted on four counts. The former head teacher was sentenced to 19 years and given an option of a fine of E474 000. His then attorney, Noncedo Ndlangamandla, applied successfully that he be released from prison to be able to organise funds to pay the fine, which he was to pay in instalments of E79 000 per month. He was able to pay for a few months and when the funds were not forthcoming, he was sent to prison to serve his sentence. He remained in prison until his recent release.

Makhubu admitted that he made payments to Temnkitsi and that he did so because he believed that she had been instructed by a person he thought was an inkhosikati.
The judge considered that the monies were taken from school coffers and not used for purposes meant to benefit the school. Temnkitsi, according to the judge, did not give Makhubu any receipts for the money he gave her. “This, in my judgment, clearly shows that the first accused is lying in his evidence that he believed that the money would be repaid to the school.”

Customary

Judge Mamba further said it was also significant to observe that Makhubu failed to tell the court which law or Eswatini Customary law obliged him to obey the orders of the said inkhosikati, if indeed the instruction came from a genuine inkhosikati. Makhubu himself conceded that as a liSwati male, it was improper for him to speak privately with an inkhosikati.
The judge mentioned that no inkhosikati was involved in the scam and added that Makhubu continued to give out money belonging to the school to Temnkitsi despite several warnings that the woman was a con artist or a fraud.

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