Executor fined E2 800 for executing her duties

MBABANE – An executor detailed how she was fined E2 800 for carrying out her responsibilities in her late husband’s estate.

Busi 'lamini from Emvembili, in North ern Hhohho ,is the second wife to the late businessman, 9ictor .ula 'lamini, who passed on in November 2022. The deceased was also married to Eli]abeth 'lamini, who was his first wife and he married both his wives through the tradi tional ‘kuteka’ custom.

'uring her appearance before the com mission, which has been tasked with investigating allegations of malpractice in the Office of the Master of the High Court, Busi narrated that it was initially Eli]abeth who was nominated as the e[ecutor of the estate, but she withdrew her services, citing that she did not want anything to do with her.

6he told the commission that the inven tory of her late husband comprises of 1 rooms, shops, a butchery, a tractor, tractor drawn plough and a van.

The dispute that was delaying the distri bution was that Eli]abeth was allegedly claiming ownership of all the assets in the inventory, as detailed by Busi.

6he narrated that when she intended to open a file at the Master’s Office, after the demise of her husband, Eli]abeth denied her the death certificate.

Intervention

6he said it was after the intervention of the Human Rights Office that she got the death certificate and was able to open the file.

Busi pointed out to the commission that the deceased had 1 children, seven of whom were born out of wedlock, while the others belonged to Eli]abeth. Hers passed on while he was only three months old.

6he narrated that she got married to her husband in 2010, but they fell in love back in 1 1.

³It was around that time that my husband gave me the butchery to run and this was accompanied by an affidavit,” she said.

6he revealed that since then, she had been running the butchery, but things took a turn for the worst when her husband passed on, as all properties were allegedly taken by Eli]abeth and she was taking all the money from the rentals of the shops and the 1 rooms.

Busi claimed that Eli]abeth allegedly faked a letter from umphakatsi, which confirmed that all the assets belonged to her. 6he said what made her conclude that the letter was fake was that the umphakatsi did not confirm it.

Proceeds

6he narrated that as the e[ecutor, she went to the butchery that had been left to her by her husband and closed it down because proceeds from its rent were taken by Eli]abeth, but she was taken to the National Court where she was fined E2 00 for closing down the business. Phinda 'lamini, Pigg’s Peak Assistant Master revealed that to their knowledge, Eli]abeth was a hustler who lived from hawking, getting merchandise from 6outh Africa and selling it locally.

He told the commission that it was through proceeds of the hawking busi ness that they were told she bought the properties and some family members attested to it.

³Eli]abeth told us that the only time her husband was involved in the business was when she reTuested him to help her acTuire the land where the shops were built and that was it,” he said.

'lamini told the commission that there was an interim court order which stopped the deceased from taking the property of the first wife and sharing it with his second wife, but they did not receive the final order.

However, Busi holds a different view as she believes her husband used his pension to build the stores and attain all the other properties.

Chairperson of the commission MaMa henkhaba 'lamini said such parties, as members of the umphakatsi needed to give clarity on the letter for the progression of the estate.