Children unhappy with location of businessman’s file
MBABANE – Children of the late Siteki businessman, Mfanufikile Kingsley Mashaba, are unhappy that the estate file was opened in Simunye yet he resided in Siteki.
Nosimilo Mashaba and Celimphilo Mashaba appeared before the Judicial Commission of Inquiry on Thursday and stated that they wanted the file to be taken to the Master’s Office in Siteki.
Celimphilo alleged that their stepmother told them that she would approach an assistant master, who was her friend, which was why they felt that the file should be taken to Siteki.
They stated that they wanted their stepmother, Sandra, who is the executrix, to account for monies that their father was making.
The duo informed the commission that when their father died on August 10, 2023, he and Sandra were in the process of divorce, which was not concluded. They said the deceased had five children; two from his marriage with Sandra, who had left five years ago when their father died. They also said they wanted a co-executor to be appointed.
Celimphilo told the commission that upon their father’s demise, the master called them to the Master’s Office in Simunye and along the way their car had a tyre problem and they had to fix it.
“Around 11am, the master called to say they were waiting for us. We proceeded and they called when we were in Simunye to say we should hurry up.
“When we arrived, they told us that the meeting was over and they would brief us on what transpired, regarding the appointment of the executor. We asked how come, because you did not tell us at what time the meeting would be held,” said Celimphilo.
Estate
He said they also enquired as to why the file was opened in Simunye and not in Siteki, where their father was based. Celimphilo told the commission that the assistant master told them that an estate file could be opened anywhere.
Nosimilo said they requested that there should be a co-executor, because there were many issues to be dealt with. The assistant master, according to Nosimilo, allegedly told them that it would not happen as no one had objected to Sandra’s appointment.
At the Master’s Office, according to Nosimilo, there was Sandra, members of her family and their elder brother.
She alleged that the master ill-treated them. “They didn’t want to listen to what we were complaining about. Sandra was appointed as the executrix and we were not there when she was appointed,” said Nosimilo.
Transport
When asked what their complaint was, Celimphilo explained that their father was a public transport operator. He said his public service vehicles were still operating, but they did not benefit from the money they generated.
He alleged that Sandra usually told them that the vehicles were not operating, because they broke down often, yet they saw them on the road. Celimphilo submitted that they approached the master to raise this issue.
Sandra, according to Celimphilo, also received payment of E25 000 from the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC). He alleged that Sandra spent E8 000 of the EBC payment to purchase cattle and distributed the balance in amounts of E2 500 among the deceased’s children.
“Sandra does not give us money and she told our uncle (babe lomkhulu) that he should not give us money. When we ask for school fees for the child who goes to school, Sandra tells us that there is no money. The master called her and only told her that what she did was wrong and that was all,” Celimphilo said.
He also said they approached the master, because Sandra allegedly refused to pay school fees for their sibling who stayed with them.
He mentioned that they discovered that in their father’s bank accounts, there were amounts of E1 200, E400 and 78 cents. “The master showed us that there was no money.”
Vehicles
According to Celimphilo, their father owned three public service vehicles, a van and Honda sedan, as well as two homesteads.
Celimphilo said his father had bought his two cars and Sandra hired a lawyer and they took the cars from him through a deputy sheriff.
He told the commission that the cars were registered in his name and they were parked at the homestead where their grandmother resides.
Judge Majahenkhaba Dlamini asked why Sandra took the cars and Celimphilo said she told him that they belonged to her husband.
“The master told me that there was a final order on the cars and I have just hired an attorney to have the order rescinded and get the cars back,” he stated.
Deputy Master Lindelwa Magagula informed the commission that she did not have details of the matter at all, as the officer who was seized with it was not present on Thursday.
Magagula requested that the officer in question should compile a report with the necessary attachments, which would be presented to the commission.
Judge Dlamini enquired from the deputy master if the file had to be opened in Simunye instead of Siteki. Magagula said due to decentralisation, the Master’s Offices were now in various areas.
She explained that as the Master’s Office they developed that the reporting of an estate of a deceased person, their place of residence was taken into consideration.
“If, for instance the person resided in Siteki, it follows that the estate will be reported in Siteki. If the usual place of residence is Matsetsa, the family would decide to either go to Simunye or Siteki,” said Magagula.