A Standard Bank Digital Consultant accused of being involved in an alleged E396 000 cyber fraud has been granted E50 000 bail alongside three co-accused.
Judge Nkosinathi Maseko granted the four bail despite allegations that a customer’s online banking credentials were compromised and his mobile number subjected to a SIM card swap. Thabiso Easter Sihlongonyane, Zama Mashinini, Nkosinathi Bhila and Mcondisi Nxumalo were each granted bail of E50 000 comprising E3 000 cash and E47 000 in surety.
The case drew attention to the alleged compromise of a customer’s banking information, particularly because Sihlongonyane works in Standard Bank’s digital department where he assists customers with their digital banking needs.
According to the charge sheet, the four allegedly caused a financial loss of E396 000 to Mandla Makepeace Maseko through unauthorised interference with Standard Bank’s online banking system.
The alleged incident occurred on October 17 at or near Manzini, where the accused allegedly acted individually or jointly in furtherance of a common purpose to obtain an unlawful economic benefit.
The charge sheet further alleges that the accused accessed Maseko’s online banking account by infringing security measures to obtain computer data.
They are also accused of acquiring, possessing, transferring and using the complainant’s online banking credentials between October 6 and 17 allegedly with the intention of committing, aiding or abetting unlawful activities. Another allegation is that the complainant’s mobile number was subjected to an unlawful SIM card swap at an MTN service centre in the Hhohho region on October 17.
The four face charges under the Computer Crime and Cybercrime Act No. 6 of 2022, while Mashinini, Bhila and Nxumalo also face separate money laundering charges under the Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (Prevention) Act No. 6 of 2011.
However, Sihlongonyane has strongly denied involvement in the alleged fraud, claiming that he could instead be a victim of weaknesses in the bank’s digital security system.
In his founding affidavit supporting the bail application, he told the court that he worked as a digital consultant and assisted customers with their digital banking requirements.
He alleged that the bank had experienced recurring problems in its digital system, including instances where customers’ information would be exchanged with that of other customers. “Such cases have been plenty and as staff we would work tirelessly to cure such failure in the system,” he stated.
Sihlongonyane further alleged that the incident was not isolated but was being presented in a manner that concealed wider security challenges within the system.
He argued that he was not the only employee with access to customers’ information, explaining that his supervisors cross-checked his work and that other employees in the department could potentially have accessed the information. He maintained that he was being implicated merely because of his employment in the department.
Sihlongonyane also told the court that he had no intention of fleeing because his family, employment and other interests were firmly established in the country.
He said he was married with three children and feared losing his Standard Bank job if he remained in custody for an extended period.
However, Mashinini offered a different explanation for the money allegedly linked to the case. He told the court that money had been deposited into his bank account in October 2026 and that he believed it was a loan from a business associate.
According to his affidavit, he had requested the loan to purchase a motor vehicle in South Africa. He said he subsequently travelled to South Africa with Bhila and Nxumalo, transferring the money to an acquaintance in that country to avoid travelling with large amounts of cash.
However, their plans allegedly collapsed after they were informed that the acquaintance’s account had been frozen over suspected fraud.
“I was understandably shocked by the same and we all headed back to the kingdom crestfallen,” Mashinini stated.
He denied knowing that the money was allegedly connected to criminal activity and maintained that he had no intention of benefiting from unlawful proceeds. Bhila also denied knowledge of any criminal activity, saying he had accompanied Mashinini to South Africa after being invited to join him on the vehicle-buying trip. “Mine was simply a case of being caught at the wrong place at the wrong time,” he stated.
Bhila, who works as an accountant at Glen Anderson Accounting Firm, told the court that his continued detention threatened his employment and his ability to support his daughter who attends St Mark’s High School as well as his sickly parents.
The fourth accused, Nxumalo similarly maintained that he had merely accompanied Mashinini to South Africa and had not participated in any criminal activity. He said his arrest had also affected his blockyard business at Mgubudla, Ngwane Park, which he described as his only source of income.
He feared that the business could collapse because customers had placed orders before his arrest, which he was now unable to fulfil.
Nxumalo further said he had two children attending St Theresa’s Primary School who depended on him.
The four applicants told the court that they had cooperated with police investigations by surrendering their mobile phones and providing information.
They also argued that they were not flight risks, had families and livelihoods in the kingdom and would not interfere with witnesses.
They were arrested on October 23 at the Ngwane Park OK parking area by members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service based at the Manzini Regional Police Headquarters.
Sihlongonyane stated that the police had telephoned him and instructed them to wait for officers, which they did without resistance.
They appeared before the Manzini Magistrate’s Court on Monday and were remanded to Zakhele Remand Centre.
All four have indicated that they intend to plead not guilty to the charges when the matter goes to trial.
