MBABANE – A last-ditch effort by Mduduzi Shongwe to obtain a further postponement of the matter until tomorrow failed yesterday, as Judge Ticheme Dlamini issued a warrant for his arrest.
Shongwe is the Managing Director of Kwando Lifestyle Brands and Oukitel Eswatini. The warrant of arrest was issued after Shongwe and/or his companies failed to abide by a court order directing them to deliver a motor vehicle – a Jaecoo J7 – to Miss Eswatini, Temvelo Nicole Mtsetfwa, upon her crowning on November 30, 2024, as previously ordered by the court. Shongwe was not present in court when the warrant was issued.
Judge Ticheme also ordered that, upon arrest, Shongwe is to be brought before the court on the next business day for directives on the execution of the committal to prison, as per the order issued on February 16, 2026. On that date, the court sentenced Shongwe to 30 days behind bars, renewable until he fully complies with the order to deliver the car. Execution of this order was suspended for 14 days pending compliance. When the matter returned today, Shongwe’s solicitor, Martin ‘Internash’ Dlamini, applied for a postponement until tomorrow.
“We apply for an indulgence. May the matter be postponed to Friday,” he requested. Judge Ticheme enquired: “Where is the third respondent (Shongwe)? Should he not be in court?” Martin told the court that his client was in the Republic of South Africa carrying out the processes that the court ordered to ensure the delivery of the car to Mtsetfwa. “The court order was specific that he should deliver the car himself. If the matter can be postponed to Friday, we will be able to apprise the court of the final details of the ongoing processes in South Africa currently hindering the delivery of the car,” said the lawyer.
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Shongwe got himself into this situation – lawyer
MBABANE – While Temvelo Mtsetfwa’s solicitor said Mduduzi Shongwe got himself into this situation, Judge Ticheme Dlamini said there was nothing more the court could do.
Mtsetfwa is represented by Hlomendlini Mdladla of H.N. Mdladla Attorneys. Mdladla submitted that Shongwe, the Managing Director of Kwando Lifestyle Brands and Oukitel Eswatini, got himself into this situation because he did not take the court process seriously.
“He has been aware of the issue and that it is of national interest. Now we are told about what is happening in South Africa and we deny it. The third respondent (Shongwe) must be brought here to purge his contempt. He had the full 14 days to file an affidavit if it was that important to him.
“He is not even present so that we can put him in the witness dock. It would be appropriate for him to be committed to prison. He has been given more than enough time. He made a plethora of undertakings, but nothing has been done. We seek the execution of the court order,” said Mdladla. The court also mentioned that Shongwe had been given ample time to comply with the order to deliver the car. “A warrant of arrest must be issued, and it will be issued,” Judge Ticheme stated.
The solicitor representing Shongwe, Martin ‘Internash’ Dlamini, said he had specific instructions from his client. He informed the court that the delivery of the car was hindered by ongoing processes in South Africa. In fact, he stated there are eight other cars apart from the one to be delivered to Mtsetfwa. According to Martin, the consignment was worth millions of Emalangeni. He said when he took up the matter, he could tell by his client’s demeanour that he believed he was in control of the situation.
*Full article available on Pressreader*
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