MANZINI – A 50-year-old finance clerk employed by Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital has been charged with fraud after an internal audit uncovered financial discrepancies involving E133 754 at the health facility.
Hlengiwe Sylvia Mkhonta of Lubokholwa under Chief Manyeva appeared before the Manzini Magistrates Court yesterday facing a charge of fraud in connection with the alleged loss of the hospital’s funds.
According to the charge sheet, Mkhonta allegedly committed the offence on or about May 10, 2026, at RFM Hospital.
The charge sheet alleges that Mkhonta, in her capacity as a finance clerk and employee of RFM Hospital, with intent to defraud, reportedly stole money from the hospital amounting to E133 754.
It is further alleged that she used misrepresentation to induce the RFM Hospital to suffer an actual loss of the same amount. The alleged fraud was reportedly uncovered during an audit conducted at the hospital in June 2026.
During the audit, discrepancies were reportedly identified between digital receipts and manual receipts used in the hospital’s financial transactions. The discrepancies are said to have raised concerns as the amounts appearing on the digital receipts did not correspond with those reflected on the manual receipts.
Following the discovery, an internal investigation was conducted by the hospital in an effort to establish what had happened to the money and how the alleged discrepancies had occurred. It has been gathered that the investigation subsequently resulted in Mkhonta being reported to the police, leading to her arrest and the institution of criminal proceedings against her.
The charge sheet identifies the alleged loss as E133 754 and states that the money was property of, or in the lawful possession of, Thulile Matsebula. Mkhonta is alleged to have committed the offence while holding a position that involved handling or dealing with financial records at the hospital.
The case centres on alleged discrepancies in the recording and handling of receipts, with the prosecution expected to present evidence to establish how the E133 754 was allegedly lost.
The accused has not been convicted of the offence yet, and the allegations contained in the charge sheet remain allegations until proven in court. The matter has been postponed to September 24, 2026, for further proceedings.
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