By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:Themba Khumalo, the removed Managing Director of the Eswatini Post and Telecommunications Corporation(EPTC) is a subject of an investigation by the Anti Corruption Commission(ACC) for alleged bribery and/or money-laundering among other allegations of corruption.

Khumalo was recently removed by Information, Communications and Technology(ICT) Minister Savannah Maziya who through the Board, refused to renew his contract and at the time, the ‘fired’ Managing Director was facing allegations of corruption in that, he allegedly colluded with Attorney General(AG) Indvuna Sifiso Khumalo to sell land worth over R10million and, belonging to the State owned telecommunications company.

The land sold to influential, powerful and politically connected Ludzidzini Council member Ncumbi Maziya, is situated at Statelite next to the Ezulwini Police Post.

But now, fresh allegations have emerged suggesting that, the then Managing Director allegedly violated the State owned company’s policies and the Prevention of Corruption Act by awarding a “Debt Collection” contract to Simza Enterprise(Pty)Ltd without following the tendering processes and/or in violation of corporate governance principles.

In fact, the then Manging Director Themba Khumalo is alleged to have “hand-picked” the said company and awarded it the “Debt Collection” contract and soon thereafter, large amounts of money were discovered by the Anti Corruption Commission being paid to bank accounts with alleged links to Khumalo thus triggering the investigation.

Reached for comments by this publication, Simza Enterprise Managing Director Comfort Mduduzi Simelane confirmed knowlegue of the investigation but clarified that, his company was engaged to try and assist the State owned telecommunications company pending the tendering process.

“It’s true that we were engaged as a Debt Collector by EPTC but, it was for a short period of time. EPTC was urgently seeking debt collection services and there was no time for the tendering process. So we were engaged pending the tendering process and after they secured a Debt Collector who won the tender, we stopped,” he said.

But an independent investigation conducted by this Swaziland News uncovered that, after being engaged as a “Debt Collector” for the State owned telecommunications company and after collecting over R1million, the Director of Simza Enterprise(Pty) Ltd  subsequently transferred over one hundred thousand Rands(R120,000.00) to the University of Cape Town(UCT) bank account under reference number “Khum 004”.

It is further alleged that, the payment reflecting in Simza Enterprise’s bank account was for the then Managing Director Themba Khumalo’s son tuition fees.

Reached for comments earlier, the fired Managing Director denied these allegations, however Information Minister Savannah Maziya refused to renew his contract amid serious allegations of corruption.

Minister Savannah previously told Parliament that, the over R10million land scandal exposed by this publication will be investigated but, it has been disclosed that, other allegations of corruption emerged against the then Managing Director thus leaving the Information Minister with no alternative but, to remove him.

Jabu Phakathi, the Spokesperson of the Anti Corruption Commission(ACC) declined to comment about the investigation.

But insiders within the law enforcement agency told this publication that, “the ACC is intensifying the investigation into the allegations of corruption and/or looting allegedly involving the then Managing Director”.

Reached for comments by this Swaziland News on Sunday evening, Acting EPTC Managing Director Lungile Nxumalo asked not to comment about the investigation.

The Eswatini Post and Telecommunications Corporation, a State owned company is on the brink of collapse amid rampant corruption including fraud and maladministration.

Lawyer Kwanele Magagula is the newly appointed Board Chairman of the State owned telecommunications company, he told this Swaziland News on Sunday evening that, as the new Board, they don’t have details or any knowledge of the said investigation.

”We are still new having been recently appointed by the Minister last week and therefore, we don’t have details or knowledge of the said investigation. But we can confirm that, Chief Financial Officer(CFO) Lungile Nxumalo has been appointed by the Board as the Acting Managing Director”, said the Board Chairman.