MBABANE – The Sincephetelo Motor Vehicle Accidents Fund (SMVAF) is poised for a major turnaround.
This is as newly appointed Chief Executive Officer, Khangeziwe Mabuza, rolls out an ambitious transformation agenda aimed at restoring stability, strengthening governance and realigning the fund with global best practice.
Mabuza, the former Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, was appointed by Minister for Finance Neal Rijkenberg in December 2025.
Barely two months into her tenure, she has already begun to assert a new tone at the institution, signalling a decisive break from a turbulent period marked by governance and leadership challenges.
Yesterday, Mabuza, accompanied by some members of her executive, met with the Eswatini Editors Forum to reflect on her initial months at the helm and to outline the outlook of the fund.
The engagement provided rare insight into the internal reset underway at SMVAF, following a year in which the fund frequently made headlines for the wrong reasons.
During the discussions, it emerged that Mabuza has moved swiftly to stabilise the institution, earning praise from senior management for her hands-on and energetic leadership style.
Corporate Executive and Controlling Officer Sam Mzileni described the CEO as a ‘bullet train’, noting that her arrival had injected renewed momentum and confidence within the organisation.
Mzileni expressed appreciation to government for what he described as a timely and strategic appointment, adding that Mabuza had made it clear from the outset that her commitment was to serve His Majesty the King and the country.
“Her message has been simple and consistent – to give back to the King and the nation by ensuring that SMVAF fulfils its mandate effectively and with integrity,” he said.
SMVAF’s challenges came sharply into focus last year when several top managers were suspended amid investigations into alleged irregularities surrounding the procurement of a E59 million SAP-ERP technology system.
The procurement reportedly proceeded without the knowledge of SCOPE, the Cabinet Standing Committee on Public Enterprises, raising serious governance concerns.
The controversy ultimately led to the departure of the then Chief Executive Officer, David Myeni, compounding uncertainty within the institution. The fallout from the saga not only damaged the fund’s public image, but also affected staff morale, according to the new CEO.
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