Company launches probe
The investigations were instituted recently. The source alleged that there was laxity in the monitoring of the funds that were being kept by the outlets, hence some of the workers took advantage of this and stole the money.
The insider further mentioned that last Friday, an employee who allegedly stole a sum of E20 000 from the company, was placed on precautionary suspension while investigations were ongoing.
When sought for comment, EPTC Manager-Corporate Affairs, Nqobile Magagula, declined to comment on the matter.
This reporter also wanted to establish if the company had or would solicit the assistance of the police in the matter, as it boarded on theft.
The posts division offers modern mail service for letters, packages or other postal documents including post boxes, customs clearance, transport insurance or worldwide from person-to-person, through all domestic post offices and also to neighbouring countries like South Africa, Lesotho and Botswana.
It also provides agency services on behalf of other companies. Agency services are provided throughout the postal network.
Contracts
The post offices sell contracts and receive payments for companies such as Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC), Eswatini Water Services Corporation (EWSC), Eswatini Television Authority (ETVA) and EswatiniTelecom. There are also internet cafés with access to high-speed internet in all communication centres and selected post offices.
Meanwhile, in 2020, five men, including an employee of EPTC, were arrested in connection with the theft of E16 million from the company.
Romeo Mark Fernandez (20) of Mahwalala under Chief Zembe and Sinethemba Mkhosiwenkhosi Simelane (21) of Checkers under Chief Mabonya, both told the court that they were not involved in the theft of the money.
They were arrested with EPTC IT Technician Sanele Bongi Sibandze (43) of Lavumisa under Chief GasawaNgwane and Majuba Sylvester Stewart (46) of Mbutfu under Chief Siphike.
The quartet was arrested following an investigation into the theft of the money at EPTC, which took about seven months. They were charged with four counts of theft and the offences are alleged to have been committed in August 2019.
Arrested
When Sibandze was arrested, investigators reportedly found many routers and electronic gadgets which were seized as exhibits.
A router is a hardware device designed to receive, analyse and move incoming packets to another network. It may also be used to convert packets to another network interface, drop them, and perform other actions relating to a network.
According to the charge sheet, the largest amount, E14 870 000, was allegedly transferred by Sibandze alone.
Other amounts which were stolen from EPTC in August 2019 were E875 000, E850 000 and E185 000. The money was allegedly stolen from the company’s bank account.
The stolen amounts were allegedly unlawfully transferred from the bank account held at Nedbank Eswatini.