Chief Justice throws the book at senior lawyer

Swaziland’s Chief Justice Bheki Maphalala has jailed senior lawyer Siboniso Dlamini for 30 days and barred him from entering any court building in the kingdom until he complied with a court order to settle a debt. The Times of Swaziland reports that the extraordinary showdown occurred after Dlamini, who was representing a client in an unrelated case, appeared before Maphalala in an Mbabane court. Widower Phindile Ndzinisa last year sued Dlamini for allegedly squandering $71 000 of her late husband’s estate. Dlamini, who is a former Master of the High Court, is the executor of the estate. Maphalala warned Dlamini that he must comply with the court ruling directing him to pay $661 a month to Ndzinisa.

Full Times of Swaziland report