Judge Abande gets interim interdict

MANZINI - Industrial Court Judge Abande Thulani Dlamini has been awarded an interim interdict against Sithembiso Mngometulu.

The order was issued at the Manzini Magistrates Court yesterday after the judicial officer filed an application before the court. In his founding statement, Judge Dlamini purported that he was being harassed and abused by Mngometulu and his cohorts.

He submitted that these men were also spreading lies and unsubstantiated allegations against him. The judicial officer claimed that he had received numerous phone calls from Mngometulu and his friends where they verbally abused him.

Threatening

In light of this, the judicial officer applied before the court that Mngometulu and his cohorts be interdicted from harassing and threatening him.

Subsequently, the court issued the interim interdict directing Mngometulu to cease from harassing, threatening, assaulting and or abusing the judge, either physically and/or emotionally.

Both the judge and Mngometulu were also ordered to keep and maintain peace with each other and to avoid any conduct that would result in the loss of peace.

Furthermore, Mngometulu was interdicted and restrained from communicating with the judicial officer without a written consent from the judge.

Defaulting

Failure to comply with the order, it was said, would result in the defaulting party being charged with contempt. Members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) were ordered to effect the order and ensure its compliance.

Mngometulu is expected to appear in court on October 6, 2021, where he will have to show cause why this interim order should not be made final.

It should be noted that Judge Dlamini made this court application only a day after he and Mngometulu had met at the Manzini Police Station, where they were to discuss a way forward in the matter regarding the former’s shooting in September 2019, allegedly by the judicial officer.

Also, about a week ago, a group of men from Hhelehhele in the Manzini Region purported that the judicial officer had assaulted them with kicks and fists, and further fired shots injuring one Nhlonipho Mbonane.