MBABANE – The State, in collaboration with the police, has moved to seize assets belonging to a suspected ‘facata’ syndicate, raising hope for emaSwati who lost money to the scam.
The first breakthrough involves a man believed to be the kingpin, Sifiso Magazi Mngomezulu (31) of Thulwane.
Mngomezulu is involved in 225 charges along with his girlfriend, Noncedo Ndlovu (26), and his associates, Siyabonga Mthethwa (39) and Gugulethu Nkosi (26).
The charges include theft by false pretences, money laundering and contravening the Computer Crime and Cybercrime Act 6/2022.
The prosecution successfully obtained a court order to preserve Mngoomezulu’s BMW sedan, suspected to be proceeds of sophisticated mobile money fraud.
This comes after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions moved an application in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA) of 2018.
The order issued by Judge Nkosinathi Maseko effectively prohibits any dealings with the 2003 BMW sedan, registered WSD 799 AL, pending a formal forfeiture application. The court further ordered that the vehicle be placed under the custody and effective control of Detective Constable Thulani Makhanya.
The order also prohibits any person with knowledge of the ruling from removing, transferring, or diminishing the value of the vehicle. This includes a ban on selling, pledging or attaching the property in execution.
Under the provisions of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA) of 2018, the court has made it clear that while the vehicle is preserved, any existing financial obligations related to it, such as vehicle finance or licensing, must continue to be met by the responsible parties.
The court has also provided a window for individuals with a legal interest in the property to apply for reasonable living or legal expenses. However, such an application requires a full, sworn disclosure of assets and liabilities, and the applicant must prove they cannot meet these expenses through other property not subject to the court order.
The application was supported by a founding affidavit from Elsie Matsebula, a Principal Crown Counsel and Operational Head of the Asset Forfeiture Unit. The affidavit details a criminal scheme referred to as ‘facata’, allegedly led by Mngomezulu.
According to the affidavit, Mngomezulu and his associates targeted MTN agents who provide airtime and Mobile Money services. The group’s modus operandi involved contacting agents via telephone and posing as MTN officials. They would falsely claim that the agent’s business phone had been hacked or infected with a virus, or lure them with promises of free equipment such as umbrellas. Once engaged, Mngomezulu would provide a fake reference number to establish legitimacy.
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Kingpin reveals ‘facata’ earned him E20k per transaction
MBABANE – The alleged kingpin and his associates reportedly stole about E260 000 from their victims.
Detective Constable Thulani Makhanya told the court, in his confirmatory affidavit, that Sifiso Magazi Mngomezulu, in his voluntary confession, admitted that the ‘facata’ business yielded as much as E20 000 in a single transaction.
Makhanya also revealed the operation of the sophisticated ‘facata’ syndicate. The revelations come as part of an application by the director of public prosecutions (DPP) to preserve a white BMW sedan, which the State contends was purchased using the proceeds of these illicit activities.
Makhanya, a financial crimes investigator stationed at the Manzini Regional Headquarters under the Financial and Economic Crimes Unit, provided the court with an account of the investigations leading to the arrest of Mngomezulu and his associates on June 24, 2025.
The term ‘facata’, as described by Makhanya, has become synonymous with a specific brand of mobile money fraud in Eswatini. The syndicate’s operations involved targeting unsuspecting members of the public and small business owners through the use of deceptive cellphone codes.
The investigation uncovered that Mngomezulu and his team systematically drained funds from victims by exploiting mobile money platforms. The impact was particularly devastating for small-scale entrepreneurs who lost critical capital earmarked for legitimate business operations. Makhanya confirmed that the total amount conned from the public in this specific ring exceeded E260 000, all executed in furtherance of a common purpose.
The reason for these court proceedings is a white BMW sedan, model 2003, which first drew police attention due to suspicious registration details. Makhanya reported that at the time of the initial probe, Mngomezulu was driving the vehicle displaying registration plates KSD 343 BM. However, the licence disk affixed to the windscreen bore the registration WSD 799 AL.
Upon cross-referencing this data with the Government Computer System, Makhanya said he discovered that while the vehicle officially belonged to Mngomezulu under the WSD 799 AL registration, it was intentionally bearing false number plates.
“When questioned about the discrepancy, Mngomezulu was unable to provide a satisfactory explanation, leading the investigator to seize the vehicle as a suspected stolen unit under a formal detention order,” he explained.
“Further interrogation and a voluntary affidavit from Mngomezulu later clarified the motive behind the false plates. He admitted to borrowing the KSD 343 BM plates from an associate named Mavuso in June 2025. This was a deliberate attempt to evade arrest, as Mngomezulu was aware that the police were actively tracking him for his involvement in the fraud syndicate.”
The State’s case also rested on a lifestyle audit conducted by the Financial and Economic Crimes Unit. The audit reportedly revealed a disconnect between Mngomezulu’s assets and his legal income. Makhanya confirmed that Mngomezulu has not held any form of gainful employment since 2019, the same year he was arrested for stock theft.
*Full article available on Pressreader*
