MANZINI – Two socialites and a banker have been arrested in connection with an alleged fraud involving more than E396 000.
The accused are Nkosinathi Bhila and Mcondisi Nxumalo, described as socialites, Thabiso Esther Sihlongonyane, a banker and Zama Mashinini.
Bhila, who is from Siteki, is also a former employee of one of the reputable banks in the country.
The quartet faces seven criminal counts following the alleged fraudulent transfer of E396 000 from a 66-year-old man’s Standard Bank account.
According to the charge sheet, the accused allegedly acted individually or jointly in furtherance of a common purpose to access the complainant’s online banking account, use his banking credentials and transfer money without his authorisation.
The four were arrested at about 4:30pm on October 22, 2026, at OK Complex in Ngwane Park, Manzini. Preliminary police investigations indicate that Sihlongonyane, aged 30, is employed by the bank where the complainant holds his account.
The complainant is identified as Mandla Makepeace Maseko. The alleged offences reportedly occurred between October 6 and October 17, 2026, in Manzini and Mbabane. The money-laundering charges also refer to transactions in Eswatini and South Africa.
Police reported that E180 000 was secured before it could be withdrawn. However, no money was reportedly recovered from the suspects when they were arrested.
The charges comprise four counts under the Computer Crime and Cybercrime Act No. 6 of 2022 and three counts of alleged money laundering under the Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (Prevention) Act No. 6 of 2011.
According to a police statement, the investigation began after a man reported on October 17, 2026, that he had been defrauded of E396 152.
The police statement identifies the complainant as a 60-year-old man, while the charge sheet gives his age as 66.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the complainant received an SMS notification about activity on his mobile number. When he later attempted to make a call, it did not go through.
On Monday, he reportedly went to town to have his phone repaired and undergo a SIM-card swap. Immediately after the process, his phone began receiving messages, including bank notifications indicating that money had been transferred from his account.
He reportedly went to his bank to enquire about the transactions. He was given a statement showing that the money had been transferred in tranches of E50 000 to two accounts held at local banks before being transferred to a Capitec Bank account in South Africa.
The matter was formally reported to the police on October 18, 2026. Investigations continued and eventually led to the arrest of the four suspects on October 22.
The police statement gives the alleged loss as E396 152, while the main charge sheet cites E396 000. An affidavit submitted in support of applications to retain seized items records the amount as E396 156. These discrepancies require clarification against the original documents.
In count one, all four accused are charged with contravening Section 11(b) of the Computer Crime and Cybercrime Act.
The charge alleges that, on or about October 17, 2026, in Manzini, they unlawfully and intentionally caused Maseko to suffer a loss of E396 000 through unauthorised interference with the Standard Bank online banking system. They allegedly intended to obtain an economic benefit for themselves.
Count two charges the four with contravening Section 3(1), read with Section 3(2), of the same Act. They are accused of unlawfully accessing all or part of Maseko’s online banking account by infringing security measures, allegedly intending to obtain computer data.
In count three, the accused face another charge under Section 16 of the Act. The charge alleges that, between October 6 and October 17, 2026, they unlawfully acquired, possessed, transferred and used Maseko’s online banking credentials through a computer system, allegedly intending to commit, assist or facilitate an unlawful activity.
Count four also falls under Section 16. It alleges that, on or about October 17, 2026, in Mbabane, the accused unlawfully used another person’s means of identification by allegedly carrying out a SIM-card swap on Maseko’s mobile line at an MTN service centre while posing as the complainant.
The remaining three counts relate to alleged money laundering.
Count five charges Mashinini under Section 4(1)(c), read with Sections 76 and 89(1)(a) of the Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (Prevention) Act No. 6 of 2011.
The charge alleges that Mashinini unlawfully acquired, possessed and used money, knowing or having reason to believe that it was derived directly or indirectly from unlawful activity, for personal benefit.
Count six contains similar allegations against Bhila, while count seven charges Nxumalo with the same alleged offence.
The charge sheet refers to alleged transactions in Manzini and other places in Eswatini and South Africa. However, the end date of the alleged period is incomplete in the supplied document and requires verification against the original charge sheet.
Meanwhile, police have filed applications seeking authority to retain items allegedly seized from three of the accused for forensic examination pending the finalisation of the case.
The applications cite Section 52(3) of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act No. 67 of 1938, as amended. Detective Constable Sikhumbuzo Dlamini, service number 6511, is identified as the officer seeking authority to retain the exhibits.
In the application relating to Sihlongonyane, police listed a navy-blue iPhone in a black pouch.
The accompanying affidavit identifies Sihlongonyane as a 30-year-old liSwati man from Mpaka and states that the phone was seized following his arrest in connection with the alleged offences.
The second application concerns Nxumalo, identified in the accompanying affidavit as a 38-year-old man from Ngwane Park.
The items listed include a black iPhone in a black pouch. Police also listed a Kingdom of Eswatini travel document in Nxumalo’s name, a Republic of South Africa travel document in the name of Nxumalo Mqondisi Happy and a South African driver’s licence in Nxumalo’s name.
The supplied documents contain inconsistencies in the spelling of Nxumalo’s name. These details require verification against the original exhibits.
The third application concerns Mashinini, identified in the accompanying affidavit as a 36-year-old man from Tiyeni KaLaMgabhi.
Police listed a black Samsung Note 10 in a black pouch and a black Samsung S22, also in a black pouch.
The affidavits state that the items are required for forensic examination pending the finalisation of the matter. The examination could assist investigators in examining the alleged use of online banking credentials and the movement of the disputed funds.
