By Sibusiso Dlamini | 2025-04-03

BUSINESS Eswatini (BE) Vice President Andrew le Roux has stepped down from his position permanently.
The news of his resignation comes only a day after it came to the public fore that President Mvuselelo Fakudze and Chief Executive Officer E. Nathi Dlamini have stepped aside from the organisation’s ongoing legal battle with EswatiniMed to avoid any conflict of interest.

Unlike Fakudze and Dlamini, who have only recused themselves from the EswatiniMed matter, le Roux has vacated his role as VP entirely.
Previously the president of BE before handing over to Fakudze, le Roux however, claims that he still holds a mandate to resolve the EswatiniMed matter, though he did not clarify who had given him this instruction.

The announcement of his resignation was only formally conveyed to BE board members late on Tuesday evening by the CEO, despite questions already being raised about le Roux’s absence at Monday’s Business-to-Government (B2G) event, which was graced by Prime Minister Russell Dlamini. According to the communiqué sent to board members by the CEO, le Roux’s resignation was effective from March 21.

“It was not easy for us to accept the resignation, but he has proceeded with our grateful thanks, noting as we do, his relentless service and dedication to our organisation,” said the CEO to board members.
Sources within the leading private sector organisation allege that there is more to the decision than has been publicly disclosed.

According to the insiders, le Roux resigned in frustration of the fact that the removal of EswatiniMed Board Chairman Sammy Dlamini and CEO Peter Simelane was proving harder than anticipated.
“He was not happy with how things were going regarding the EswatiniMed matter,” alleged one of the sources.
Le Roux, however, denied that frustration over the dispute led to his resignation. Instead, he claims his decision was based on his need to focus on Montigny’s expansion outside of Eswatini.

With BE elections three months away, he also made it known that he would not be seeking re-election. “He remains part of our wider extraordinary membership, and for that we’re most thankful indeed,” emphasised the CEO to the board.

BE has taken legal action against the EswatiniMed chairman and principal officer, seeking to have both executives imprisoned for contempt of court.
The dispute centres on an Annual General Meeting (AGM) that was held on March 26, despite a High Court interdict issued by Judge Ticheme Dlamini prohibiting the meeting from proceeding.
BE, therefore, argued that by defying the court order, Simelane and Dlamini undermined judicial authority and governance structures within EswatiniMed.

Speaking to this newspaper on Tuesday, le Roux said BE’s legal challenge against Simelane and Dlamini was prompted by mounting concerns over governance failures and financial mismanagement within EswatiniMed.

He alleged that the fund’s financial decline began with its investment in the Ezulwini Private Hospital (EPH), and that a forensic audit would expose serious corporate malpractice.
“If Simelane has nothing to hide, why doesn’t he just sit back, go on holiday for a few days, take paid vacation, and allow a forensic audit to happen?” he questioned.

He further claimed that concerns over EswatiniMed’s financial instability had been raised not just by BE, but also by the Bankers Association, which he alleges also warned that the scheme’s dwindling resources posed a major risk to financial institutions and their employees, who are EswatiniMed members.
“Let’s be clear here and not run away from the facts, this whole controversy surrounding EswatiniMed stems from allegations of severe financial mismanagement, which has left the medical aid scheme in a precarious financial position,” he said.

“Governance structures have been compromised as board meetings and AGMs are being held improperly, funds are being spent without authorisation, and the audit will prove that there is serious corporate malpractice,” he further alleged.

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