Crime

MBABANE – The arrest of a female Home Affairs Officer is said to be imminent following her being called for questioning by police investigators.

The employee, whose name has been withheld, recorded a statement outlining her involvement in the fraudulent acquisition of an Eswatini national identity (ID) card by prominent South African businessman Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala. A source close to the investigation disclosed that the officer outlined her role in the matter and named those who approached her to assist Matlala.

During her questioning, she reportedly provided the names of other individuals involved in the fraudulent activities that led to Matlala unlawfully obtaining the Eswatini ID. “She gave her side of the story and clearly, from the information and from what can be gleaned from her statement, a lot of people would be arrested in connection to this matter,” the source said. The employee was released after being questioned by a team of senior investigators, but was told she would be recalled as the investigation intensifies.

The Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed the investigation was yielding ‘positive results’ and that the case would soon be before court, though they did not provide further details. According to documents seen by the Times of Eswatini, Matlala applied for the ID on February 12, 2024 and it was issued the next day. The documents indicate that he collected it on February 20, 2024. The ID, with the number 7605286100###, listed him as the second-born son of Christinah Thembi Shongwe, a resident of Motshane.

It was during investigations that it was uncovered that Shongwe’s actual second-born child is not Vusimuzi, creating a mystery around his registration.

Full article available in our publication.

Police officers seen helping Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala to climb into a police vehicle, as he leaves the Alexandra Magistrates Court buildings. (Pic: Timeslive/Thapelo Morebudi)