- An Eswatini court allowed the auction of a house linked to alleged theft from the Church of the Holy Ghost
- About E1.89 million was allegedly taken from the church’s bank account
- The unfinished three-bedroom house is at Mantsholo on Eswatini Nation Land
- A Range Rover and furniture will also be sold
Eswatini’s High Court has allowed an unfinished house to be auctioned as the proceeds of alleged theft from the Church of the Holy Ghost, the Times of Eswatini reported on April 14, 2026, in a report by Kwanele Dlamini.
Ntombifuthi Portia Nkambule, a former STANLIB broker, is accused of taking about E2 million, specifically E1,889,303.20, from the church’s account at Standard Bank Eswatini through “unauthorised access and manipulation of banking signatories”. A preservation order was granted on April 12, 2024, under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.
Judge Bongani Dlamini granted a forfeiture order allowing the curator to sell the property at public auction. The assets include an incomplete three-bedroom house at Mantsholo on Eswatini Nation Land, a Range Rover, a five-piece corner lounge suite and a nine-piece dining room suite. Eswatini Auctioneers will conduct the sale.
The church’s money, allegedly turned into a house and a car, is now being turned back into cash.
Church finances in Jamaica rely on trust, and control of bank signatories is one of the most important safeguards. The Eswatini case shows how quickly church funds can be moved into property. Churches should require at least two signatories, review bank statements regularly and change mandates promptly when officers leave. Recovering money through the courts is slow, and it is far better to prevent the loss.
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