MBABANE – The Judiciary has swiftly responded to allegations of collusion between CJ Bheki Maphalala and Philani Maswati Chairman Lutfo Dlamini in the estate of the late Adolf Ngwenyama.
The chief justice’s (CJ) response comes after an article in an online publication, where it alleged that he was manipulating the Master of the High Court, Phumzile Thomo, to improperly seize an over E10 million farm belonging to the deceased.
The Judiciary issued a statement clarifying the processes governing the Master of the High Court’s Office and explaining the specific circumstances under which the Ngwenyama estate file was transferred, vehemently denying any collusion or irregularity.
The Judiciary emphasised that the CJ does not handle any estate. That function remains the core responsibility of the master, who is mandated by the Administration of Estates Act, 1902, to supervise, distribute and liquidate all estates.
The Master’s Office is a department of the Judiciary in terms of Section 160 of the Constitution of Eswatini and its personnel are appointed and controlled by the Judiciary.
All complaints of incompetence regarding the Master’s Office are directed to the Registrar of the High Court and Supreme Court as the supervising officers, or to the CJ as the head of the Judiciary as provided for by the Constitution.
The statement provided a detailed explanation for why the Ngwenyama estate file was transferred from the Manzini Office to the master’s head office in Mbabane, stressing that the move was procedural. The Judiciary disclosed that a complaint was received by the CJ directly from the beneficiaries over the delayed finalisation of the estate by the Manzini office of the Master’s Office.
Acting in his capacity as the head of the Judiciary, the CJ suggested the transfer of the estate file to be dealt with by the master directly in view of the complaint received.
Full article available in our publication.
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