BRIBERY SCANDAL ROCKS SENATE ELECTIONS AS FORMER MINISTER LOSES AMID ALLEGATIONS OF MISUSED FUNDS
Sibongile Ndlela-Simelane, the former Minister of Health, has reportedly lost her bid for a Senate seat amid allegations of bribery and mismanagement of campaign funds. Sources claim that Ndlela-Simelane allegedly offered Members of Parliament (MPs) R35,000 each, despite reportedly receiving over R500,000 from a South African businessman to secure votes.
The Senate elections, now under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the police, have been marred by accusations of corruption. According to insiders, the businessman, who is also linked to newly elected Senator Fezeka Dlamini, had initially allocated R50,000 per MP to secure their votes. However, Ndlela-Simelane is accused of withholding R15,000 from each payment, distributing only R35,000 to the MPs. This discrepancy reportedly angered the MPs, who were aware of the original amount and contributed to her loss in the race.
In contrast, Senator Fezeka Dlamini allegedly distributed the full amount to MPs, securing her victory. Ndlela-Simelane and Dlamini had reportedly worked together to persuade MPs to vote for them as first and second choices, but only Dlamini succeeded.
When contacted, Senator Fezeka Dlamini requested a moment to respond but later failed to provide a statement. Similarly, Sibongile Ndlela-Simelane denied the allegations, questioning the source of such a large sum of money. “Uyahlanya. Ngitsatsaphi lemali lengaka?” she said, dismissing the claims.
The involvement of Clerk to Parliament Benedict Xaba, who is alleged to have lobbied MPs on Ndlela-Simelane’s behalf, has also come under scrutiny. Xaba, a former Health Minister and colleague of Ndlela-Simelane in the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) sector, maintained during a recent press conference that the Senate elections were conducted lawfully. “We urge anyone who suspects that there was corruption to approach the courts,” Xaba said.
However, Emmanuel Ndlangamandla, former Executive Director of the Coordinating Assembly of Non-Governmental Organizations (CANGO) and current Treasurer General of the MultiStakeholder Forum (MSF), expressed doubt over the effectiveness of the Anti-Corruption Commission in addressing the allegations. “It’s a pity that the Anti-Corruption Commission is not functional, and nothing will happen to those implicated,” he stated.
The scandal underscores ongoing concerns about transparency and integrity in Eswatini’s political processes. Critics argue that the alleged bribery reflects a broader culture of corruption that undermines public trust in governance. The Anti-Corruption Commission’s silence on the matter has further fueled skepticism about its ability to hold individuals accountable.
The allegations also shed light on the influence of external funding in Eswatini’s political landscape. The South African businessman at the center of the controversy has yet to respond to the claims, raising questions about the role of private interests in shaping the country’s political dynamics.
As the investigation continues, the scandal has cast a shadow over the credibility of the Senate elections and the broader political system in Eswatini. For many, the incident serves as a reminder of the urgent need for reforms to ensure transparency, accountability, and fairness in the country’s electoral processes. Whether the ACC will take meaningful action remains to be seen, but the calls for justice are growing louder in the wake of this latest controversy.
