His Majesty King Mswati III has cautioned the family of the late Chief Justice (CJ) Bheki Maphalala against allowing outside influences to interfere with their family affairs and sow division following the death of their patriarch.
The warning formed a central part of Their Majesties’ message delivered by Hhansense Dlamini, accompanied by Pastors Mahlindza and Sibandze, at Maphalala’s memorial service at Zakhele Free Evangelical Assemblies yesterday.
Dlamini said the death of a prominent family member often created a vulnerable period in which outsiders could attempt to influence the children and wives, eventually causing families that had previously lived in unity to fall apart.
“Akukapheli lutfo boMaphalala,” Dlamini said, conveying Their Majesties’ message to the bereaved family.
He said external forces could enter a family at such a time, deceive its members and create divisions between wives, children and other relatives.
Dlamini urged the Maphalala family to remain united and called on those around them to provide meaningful support rather than contribute to divisions.
“Let us support the family,” he said.
The message came as the nation gathered to remember Maphalala, who died after a career spanning decades in public service and eventually rose to become chief justice. Dlamini said Maphalala’s death was not only a loss to the Judiciary but also to the traditional structures with which he had maintained close relationships.
He reminded mourners that, beyond his position as chief justice, Maphalala was also the Indvuna of Kontshingila and had commanded respect within the traditional system. He said Maphalala knew members of the traditional courts and would summon them when their involvement was required.
“This man was strong, he knew us all, and called us all as the traditional courts. He summoned us. Who were we, to be acknowledged by him,” Dlamini said.
Dlamini said he was particularly pleased to see the Judiciary, government officials and other structures represented at the memorial, saying Maphalala had understood the importance of the relationship between traditional and modern systems.
Relationship
Dlamini then reflected on his personal relationship with Maphalala, describing him as a man who understood both the modern and traditional sides of public administration.
He recalled that Maphalala would often tell him that he was not his superior but his immediate supervisor, with the late chief justice representing the modern side while Dlamini represented the traditional side. The relationship, Dlamini said, was characterised by mutual respect and an understanding of their respective roles.
Dlamini conveyed Their Majesties’ condolences to the Maphalala family, the Judiciary and all those affected by his death, describing the late chief justice as a devoted and diligent public servant.
He said Maphalala’s contribution had extended beyond the courts, noting that he had also served on the Citizenship Board and other national structures.
Concluding Their Majesties’ message, Dlamini said the king had directed that Psalm 139 be shared with mourners.
Beyond the robes, Maphalala was a doting father – JSC
Beyond the robes, titles and state responsibilities that came with being Chief Justice, Bheki Maphalala was, at home, a doting father, who went to great lengths to ensure his children received education.
This was the touching picture of the late Chief Justice painted by Civil Service Commission (CS) Chairperson Simanga Mamba, who recalled seeing Maphalala with his children long before he occupied the country’s highest judicial office.
Speaking on behalf of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) at Maphalala’s memorial service at Zakhele Free Evangelical Assemblies yesterday, Mamba said the late chief justice was a man who loved his children deeply and sacrificed to give them a better future.
Mamba recalled encountering Maphalala in shops with his children, whom he would pack into his Land Cruiser before travelling home to Lawuba.
“He would put you inside his Land Cruiser, all of you and travel home to Lawuba. One would see that he loved his children,” he said.
He said Maphalala’s commitment to his children was particularly remarkable given his modest financial circumstances as a career civil servant.
Mamba then turned to the legacy Maphalala had left his children, urging those in positions of power and influence to remember that their actions could ultimately affect the names their children carried.
“There are two things you can leave for your children; a bad name and a good name. We should be careful of that,” he said.
He told Maphalala’s children that their father had left them a good name, which would continue to open doors for them.
‘Abenesikhwele ngani’, JSC recalls Maphalala’s jealous side
“Abenesikhwele ngani” — the late Chief Justice Bheki Maphalala’s unexpected reaction when another judge poured a drink for his wife was remembered with laughter at his memorial service on Friday.
CSC Chairman Simanga Mamba recalled the light-hearted incident while paying tribute to Maphalala, saying it offered a glimpse of the softer, more protective side of the otherwise calm and reserved chief justice.
Mamba said they had been dining at Summerfield Botanical Gardens with Maphalala and his wife when Judge Odoki, who was seated nearby, poured a drink for Maphalala’s wife. Before long, Mamba said, Maphalala reacted, questioning why “this man” was pouring his wife a drink.
Mamba said the incident even prompted him to hurry through their discussion so that Maphalala could return to his wife.
“He loved his wife, he was jealous,” Mamba said, drawing laughter from mourners.
Reflecting on the incident, Mamba said he learnt an important lesson from the late Chief Justice: “I learned that a wife should be protected.”
