Eswatini court rejects appeal by official accused of embezzling 17 million emalangeni
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Times of Eswatini
Judge Lorraine Hlophe has rejected a request by Sifiso Gulwako, finance manager of the Eswatini Communications Commission, to remove the chairperson of his disciplinary hearing. The case concerns alleged transfers of about 17 million emalangeni to his personal accounts between December 2025 and 30 July 2026, according to the Times of Eswatini.
Eswatini’s labour court has dismissed an application by Sifiso Gulwako, finance manager of the Eswatini Communications Commission (ESCCOM), seeking the removal of the chairperson presiding over his disciplinary hearing. Judge Lorraine Hlophe ruled that he had not established a reasonable risk of bias or exceptional circumstances that would justify the court’s intervention, the Times of Eswatini reports.
ESCCOM accuses Mr Gulwako of using commission funds for personal purposes, including payments made with a company card and transfers to his bank accounts. The organisation cites about 17 million emalangeni, while the amounts identified at the start of its investigation were estimated at 720,000 emalangeni, according to details cited in the judgment.
The alleged transactions took place between December 2025 and 30 July 2026. Sifiso Gulwako, who was then acting finance manager, was suspended on 30 July after an internal investigation into the suspected financial misconduct was opened, the Times of Eswatini reports.
