MBABANE – South African businessman Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala allegedly paid E1 500 after fraudulently obtaining an Eswatini national identity (ID) document.
The allegations are contained in a statement recorded by well-known Mbabane businessman Mcolisi ‘2Bob’ Shongwe on August 26, 2025, where he details his involvement in the whole matter.
The statement now forms part of investigations into how Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala allegedly acquired an Eswatini national ID under suspicious circumstances.
Shongwe has since turned State witness in the criminal case involving suspended Home Affairs official Nonhlanhla Malambe, who stands accused of allegedly manufacturing and facilitating the issuance of the fraudulent Eswatini national ID for Matlala
The Times of Eswatini first exposed the matter in July 2025, revealing that Matlala, who is facing serious criminal charges in South Africa, possessed an Eswatini ID issued in the name of Vusimuzi Dlamini.
Investigations by this publication previously uncovered that the ID was allegedly linked to a Motshane family, where the businessman was purportedly registered as the son of Christinah Thembi Shongwe despite the family disputing any relation to him.
In his statement, Shongwe alleged that he was initially contacted in 2024 by a man identified as Malome Jobe, whom he knew from Spruitview in Katlehong, South Africa.
He said Jobe informed him that a certain individual from South Africa would contact him, although no further details were initially provided.
According to the statement, Shongwe allegedly received a call the following day from a woman who said she had obtained his contact details from Jobe. She allegedly informed him that she and others were staying at the Hilton Garden Inn in Mbabane and wanted to meet him.
Shongwe alleged that upon arrival at the hotel, he found four people, three men and one woman.
He stated that two of the men later left, leaving him with the woman and another man who introduced himself as Vusi Matlala.
According to the statement, Matlala allegedly requested assistance in obtaining an Eswatini ID, claiming he had previously lived in the country but had lost contact with his relatives.
Shongwe further alleged that the woman accompanying Matlala intervened during the conversation because the businessman was not fluent in siSwati.
He claimed the woman asked whether he could assist in arranging a ‘deal’ at the Ministry of Home Affairs to facilitate the acquisition of the national document.
The businessman alleged that he then drove the group to the Ministry of Home Affairs offices near Dlanubeka Building in Mbabane.
He stated that he introduced the group to his cousin, identified as Malambe, whom he alleged worked in the department responsible for issuing IDs.
According to the statement, Shongwe allegedly requested his cousin to assist Matlala.
He alleged that Malambe told him to leave the visitors with her as she would assist them with the process.
Shongwe further alleged that later that afternoon, he received a telephone call from Malambe asking whether the visitors had contacted him again.
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