MANZINI – Police have arrested two more men linked to the syndicate accused of defrauding members of the public through promises of non-existent tenders and lucrative business deals.
This brings the total number of arrests in the case to three.
Investigators found that the syndicate swindled victims of about E1.4 million after luring them with claims of access to government tenders, royal-linked contracts and high-return investment opportunities. In several instances, the suspects are said to have used the names of royalty and other influential figures to convince unsuspecting members of the public that the deals were legitimate.
The latest suspects to be brought before the courts are Emmanuel Thulane Mhlanga (51) of Ngculwini and Nhlanhla Lucky Dlamini (39) of Moneni. The two made their maiden appearance at the Manzini Magistrates Court, where they are facing 18 counts, including theft by false pretences and contraventions of the Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (Prevention) Act of 2011.
According to the charge sheet, the offences were allegedly committed between January and December 2025 in the Manzini and Hhohho regions. The prosecution alleges that the accused misrepresented themselves to several individuals by claiming they had the ability to secure tenders, royal contracts, investment opportunities and other profitable business deals, thereby inducing their targets to part with large sums of money under false pretences.
One of the allegations relates to a September 2025 incident in which the accused allegedly misled Gibson Dlamini by claiming there was a catering tender to supply food to Mpaka Railway employees. The court heard that Dlamini was induced to pay E515 596 based on this representation. The pair is accused of unlawfully using the money, knowing or reasonably suspecting that it had been obtained through criminal deception.
In another count, the prosecution alleges that in July 2025, the accused defrauded Lokucala Khumalo after falsely promising her a tender to build staff residential flats at Phuzumoya Oil Reserves.
It is alleged that Khumalo was persuaded to part with E318 000. The accused are also facing a corresponding money laundering charge for allegedly using the funds while aware of their unlawful origin.
The remaining counts relate to a series of other alleged scams, including promises of royal-related tenders, land sales purportedly sanctioned by the monarchy, investment schemes, employment opportunities allegedly linked to royalty and the sale of goods that did not exist. The amounts involved in these alleged offences range from just over E5 500 to about E57 000.
The total amount the duo is alleged to have obtained from their targets stands at E942 461.88. Each theft count is paired with a corresponding charge under the money laundering legislation, reflecting the prosecution’s position that the accused knowingly used or benefitted from proceeds of crime.
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‘Facata’ accused allege assault while in police custody
MANZINI – Lawyers representing Emmanuel Mhlanga and Nhlanhla Lucky Dlamini claim their clients were assaulted while in police custody.
According to the lawyers, the duo was allegedly subjected to physical abuse and denied timely medical attention.
During proceedings, the defence applied for the accused persons to be transferred from police station holding cells to the Zakhele Remand Centre, citing what they described as inhumane and degrading treatment at the hands of police officers. The application was brought as an urgent matter, with the lawyers arguing that the safety and well-being of their clients could no longer be guaranteed if they remained in police custody.
According to the defence, Mhlanga and Dlamini, who have been in custody since their arrest last Thursday, were allegedly assaulted on several occasions during interrogations. The lawyers told the court that the accused complained of persistent headaches and body pains following the alleged assaults, but were not afforded medical attention while in police custody.
*Full article available on Pressreader*
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