Last weekend was filled with joy, relief and assurance that sins that engulfed human beings have been washed away by the blood of Jesus. To most Christians, the weekend was a celebration of the fulfilment of prophecies found in the Holy Bible that happened a long time ago, yet they still believe in it. As much as the blood washed wave is hovering around, a disturbing issue is still at hand, demanding a breakthrough. This year started off on the wrong foot, with a high-profile case involving an attack on an EswatiniBank ATM in Manzini.
In the early hours of Monday, February 9, 2026, which marked the pattern of the bombing trail, E1.6 million was stolen during a robbery. Apparently, it unfolded late on Sunday night and the suspects ambushed a security guard at the main gate shortly after 11pm, restraining him before gaining access to the premises.
As I was reading the article on Times of Eswatini, what was quite disturbing was that the suspects are believed to have entered the bank through a rear section of the property, avoiding surveillance cameras. Possibly, the suspects had an inside man working with them; that’s what popped into my mind, but ongoing investigations revealed that among the suspects, a former employee was connected with the robbery. He allegedly fled to South Africa. What does it say about internal security when knowledge meant to protect an institution can be used to violate it? Perhaps more troubling- was this an isolated betrayal or a symptom of deeper institutional vulnerabilities? If those once considered part of the system can allegedly turn into threats, then where does that leave public confidence?
Unfortunately, former employees carry more than just memories when they leave; they carry insight. They clearly understand security routines, weak points, timing and response patterns. Can clients still feel secure knowing that the very people who helped build the system might know exactly how to break it? As if that isn’t troubling enough, the bank is a few metres away from the police station. It forces uncomfortable questions like: Are criminals no longer afraid of the police? If an attack can happen there, in one of the most assumed secure spaces, then where is safety?
Three days after the EswatiniBank heist, Standard Bank was also broken into. However, no money was stolen at the bank as the robbers only made away with a laptop and both incidents happened in Manzini. Different banks, similar tactics and the same region- what is really going on? This is not simply a coincidence; could it be possible that a co-ordinated syndicate is testing weaknesses across multiple banks? If one bank is hit, it is a crisis. When multiple banks are targeted, it becomes a pattern. On March 30, EswatiniBank ATM in Mankayane was targeted. Fortunately, the robbers failed to leave with any of the banknotes scattered within the ATM.
A very disturbing issue is that the five suspects are South African nationals, one believed to be liSwati. The suspect from the Eswatini Bank first heist fled to South Africa; now, the suspects involved in the EswatiniBank heist at Mankayane were South African nationals. These crimes reflect a regional criminal network operating across Eswatini and South Africa. What does this pattern say about the nature of these crimes? Are we looking at isolated criminals or a well-coordinated syndicate that knows the loopholes in law enforcement? Eswatini is still dealing with the illegal online gambling saga, which allegedly involves foreign nationals. This shows that some systems meant to regulate and protect the public are still struggling to keep up
This is more than just a headline; it means that criminals may have access to resources and networks that ordinary citizens don’t even see, making them feel exposed and unprotected. The fact that suspects in the Manzini heist fled to South Africa and that those arrested in Mankayane were South African nationals highlights how criminal activity can cross borders. It shows that when individuals operate without accountability, they can exploit gaps in the system to commit serious crimes, putting citizens and businesses at risk.
These crimes expose weaknesses in the country’s systems. When banks can be attacked even near police stations, when suspects can flee across borders and when unregulated online gambling continues to operate, it shows that security, oversight and enforcement mechanisms are struggling to keep up. It is unfortunate that without any reforms, there is a risk that criminal networks would continue to adapt faster than the systems designed to stop them, posing repeated threats to emaSwati. There was a time when Eswatini was regarded as the most peaceful country in the world, but lately, crime seems to be escalating. For comments: mkhabelanamhla@gmail.com
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