MBABANE – Two former employees of MTN Eswatini have been arrested and charged in connection with the theft of airtime stock valued at over E10.2 million.
The theft was reportedly committed between January 2024 and January 2026 when airtime stock amounting to E10 257 000 was illicitly siphoned from the company’s airtime distribution system in Ezulwini.
On Wednesday, Zwelihle Khumalo (37) of KaDlovunga and Ndabenhle Nkosephayo Dludlu (29) of Ntondozi were arrested and charged with the offence.
The pair was initially due to appear at the Mbabane Magistrates Court yesterday, but sources indicated that their court appearance had been postponed to today as investigations intensified.
The police confirmed the arrest of the duo, stating that it follows extensive investigations. The two are set to make their maiden court appearance today.
According to the police, the accused persons allegedly diverted a portion of the stock and ran a side business, selling the stolen airtime to certain distributors.
In response to the incident, MTN Eswatini released a statement confirming the arrests and providing reassurance to customers.
MTN Eswatini Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Manager, Thandwayinkosi Dlamini, said: “MTN Eswatini confirms that it is aware of the recent arrest of two individuals in connection with the theft of airtime stock valued at E10 257 000. The suspects are former employees of one of our third-party service providers.
“MTN Eswatini is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and will continue to cooperate fully with the Royal Eswatini Police Service throughout their ongoing investigations.
“We wish to assure our valued customers that their airtime balances remain safe, secure and were unaffected by this incident.
“As this is currently an active legal matter before the courts, MTN Eswatini will not be providing further comment on this matter.”
The MTN airtime fraud comes against the backdrop of a notable rise in cybercrime across Eswatini; a trend that police and industry stakeholders say poses growing challenges for businesses and individuals alike.
According to recent local reporting, cybercrime perpetrated through online scams is on the increase, with a surge in reported scam incidents even as the overall monetary value of some cybercrime proceeds shows fluctuation.
Incidents reported by the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) reflect a rise in online scams, including fraudulent links on social media posing as trusted promotions or fake offers that lure unsuspecting users into compromising their personal information or finances.
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