By Sibusiso Dlamini | 2025-03-27

SWAZIMED’S annual general meeting proceeded yesterday despite a High Court order barring it.

The meeting, held at the Hilton Garden Inn, saw tense moments as Principal Officer Peter Simelane arrived under heavy security, flanked by six muscular bodyguards and using a separate entrance.

Police were also stationed at the hotel’s parking area.
The High Court interim interdict, issued on Tuesday afternoon by Judge Ticheme Dlamini, barred Simelane and board chairman Sammy Dlamini from unilaterally convening meetings or obstructing investigations into SwaziMed’s affairs.

The court had granted the order after Business Eswatini (BE), a shareholder of the Fund, brought a court application, accusing Simelane and Dlamini of bypassing board approvals and violating the fund’s Memorandum of Incorporation (MoI) and the Companies Act of 2009, arguing the two had overstepped their authority and disrupted corporate governance.

The ruling, delivered ex parte (when legal proceedings or actions are undertaken by one party without notifying or involving the other party, often in urgent situations where immediate action is needed), declared any decisions made at the AGM void.

Simelane was also restrained from threatening or assaulting board representatives, including Nokuthula Dlamini, who was appointed acting Principal Officer by an interim board of six out of the 13 members of the board.
Despite this order, the AGM commenced with 40 members and seven proxies, surpassing the quorum requirement of 25, according to SwaziMed.

It was attended by, among others, representatives from EWADE, Eswatini Beverages, PSPF, NMC, Namboard, MVA, ESCCOM, NERCHA, AHF, Eswatini Football Association, and CONCO.
Shareholders such as Standard Bank Eswatini, Montigny Investments (Pty) Limited, Eswatini Water Services Corporation, EswatiniBank, ESERA, Nedbank Eswatini, Illovo, EEC, ESRIC, MTN Eswatini, and Business Eswatini, were notably absent.

Explaining why the meeting proceeded despite the court order, Simelane insisted that the gathering was legitimate, arguing that the court’s decision was made without SwaziMed being heard.

“The order was granted without listening to our side.
They ran to court without consulting us.
That’s why we are here in the meeting; the meeting is legally constituted,” Simelane insisted.

The principal officer also assured members that he remains ‘firmly in his seat’ despite mounting controversy surrounding his leadership and a suspension declared by an interim board.
“I can assure members that I am very well still firmly in my seat. The board in its entirety has not suspended me, and I have their full support,” he said, addressing the members.

Meanwhile, the board chairman assured shareholders and stakeholders that order had been restored following what he described as a ‘challenging’ period of divisions within the Board of Trustees.

“It has been an extraordinarily challenging time, but we are pleased to assure our members and stakeholders that unity has been restored, and the leadership is fully aligned in advancing the interests of the fund,” he said.
Dlamini called for calm, reconciliation, and unity of purpose, emphasising that cooperation at all levels was essential to ensure the continued provision of quality healthcare services to members.
He also reassured shareholders that SwaziMed remained financially stable, transparent, and in full compliance with governance standards.

Dlamini put emphasis on the fact that auditors had reaffirmed the fund’s solid financial position, reinforcing confidence among stakeholders.

Tensions within SwaziMed’s leadership escalated last week when the interim board announced the suspension of both Simelane and Dlamini during a press conference held under police supervision at the same hotel.

The announcement was made by interim board chairman Bheki Maziya, a representative of BE, who cited governance failures and stakeholder dissatisfaction as key reasons for the leadership shake-up.

Maziya also accused Simelane and Dlamini of disregarding governance processes, leading to the board’s decision to remove them from their positions.

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