By EPN Reporter
MBABANE – Widows are happy to be given an opportunity to testify in the Judicial Commission of Enquiry into the operations of the Master of the High Court.
The widows stated that they have been waiting for an opportunity to speak about the alleged ill treatment they faced at the office of the Master of the High Court when they went to claim the estates of their late husbands.
They hailed Chief Justice (CJ) Bheki Maphalala for appointing the commission to look into the operations of the office of the Master of the High Court. They further hailed the appointees for committing themselves into making this work a success and further pleaded with them to work diligently during the probe.
Umhluma Youth and Women Foundation Founder Lungelo Zulu said they looked forward to making their submissions before the commission. Zulu said they were currently preparing a report that would help them testify before the commission.
He said the widows were happy to be given that opportunity and further pointed out that they were going to encourage more widows to submit before the commission. Zulu said the widows’ submissions would help the commission in seeing that the widows were encountering a difficult time when trying to get services from the office of the Master.
The commission of enquiry was appointed on Tuesday by Chief Justice (CJ) Bheki Maphalala at the High Court in Mbabane. The commissioners took their oath of office the following day at the Industrial Court of Appeal in Mbabane. CJ Maphalala, when appointing the commission, stated that he acted in line with the submissions of the public during Sibaya, which was held in October last year.
Maphalala pleaded with the nation to submit only what was true before the commission, as anything false would result in them paying a fine of E1 000 or spending six months in jail. The commission consists of Supreme Court Judge Majahenkhaba Dlamini (Chairperson), High Court Judge Mzwandile Fakudze (Deputy Chairperson), Industrial Court Judge President Sifiso Nsibande, High Court Judge Maxine Langwenya, Industrial Court Judge Lorraine Hlophe, and Supreme Court Registrar Siphiwo Masuku.
The commission encouraged the nation not to be afraid because there were no signs showing that something bad was going to happen to them after making their submissions. Judge Fakudze reminded the nation that people testified during sensitive cases in court and nothing bad happened to them afterwards.
