MBABANE – Cabinet, through the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, has authorised the Board of Directors of Eswatini Railways to proceed with a forensic audit into the operations of the entity.
This follows correspondence from the Minister for Public Works and Transport, Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe, to the chairperson of the Eswatini Railways Board, granting approval for the audit to be undertaken.
The minister in the correspondence seen by this publication said: “Please be advised that Cabinet has approved that Eswatini Railways Board proceed to conduct the forensic investigation into the operations of the entity following findings of the auditor general (AG).”
Ndwandwe said the audit is however, not to be confined to these findings. He said the cost of the forensic audit is to be borne by Eswatini Railways.
The minister further requested the Board to share the terms of reference of the audit and the outcome thereof with the Office of the AG and his office.
According to informed sources, the decision comes after a prolonged period of governance tensions within the organisation.
Sources indicate that the Board of Directors, chaired by Nonhlanhhla Shongwe, an Attorney by profession, resolved in early 2024 to institute a forensic audit after receiving whistle-blowing information raising concerns of possible maladministration at Eswatini Railways.
The matters raised reportedly included, among others, allegations relating to the irregular award of tenders, variations in contract prices on projects such as the Eswatini Rail Link (ESRL) and Mpaka ICD projects, the appointment of low-ranked contractors and alleged non-compliance with procurement procedures in the leasing of locomotives.
The Board is said to have resolved that a forensic audit was necessary to assess the veracity of these allegations and to determine an appropriate way forward from a corporate governance perspective. It is further reported that the Board’s resolution encountered resistance from certain internal stakeholders, leading to a standoff between management and the Board.
This impasse culminated in the chief executive officer (CEO) seeking the intervention of the minister for Public Works and Transport, in an effort to resolve the matter as the line minister.
The minister is reported to have intervened by requesting that the Office of the AG conduct a preliminary review of the concerns raised, while also urging both the Board and management to cooperate fully with the process.
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Coal loads captured in company’s tracking systems – union
MBABANE – The Eswatini Railways Workers’ Union has raised allegations that certain coal loads were not captured in the company’s tracking systems.
This is contained in their correspondence with the Minister for Public Works and Transport, Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe, following the release of the auditor general’s report.
The Eswatini Railways Workers’ Union wrote to the minister on October 2, 2025, copying the chairperson of the Board.
In its correspondence, the union appealed for intervention on governance and labour-related matters.
The union is reported to have raised concerns regarding the auditor general’s findings, disputed statements allegedly attributed to the chief executive officer regarding the Board’s position on a forensic audit and highlighted additional issues, including allegations that certain coal loads were not captured in the company’s tracking systems.
The minister is said to have referred the union’s correspondence to the Board for consideration. Sources indicate that the Board thereafter deliberated on both the auditor general’s report and the union’s correspondence.
It is reported that the Board resolved that, in the interests of sound corporate governance, best interest of the organisation and to bring finality to the matters raised, a comprehensive forensic audit was necessary to holistically investigate all allegations and to produce a report with clear findings and recommendations.
This recommendation was subsequently transmitted to the minister for Public Works and Transport, who is said to have tabled the matter before Cabinet, resulting in the approval to proceed with the forensic audit.
*Full article available in our publication
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