ESWATINI, MBABANE: Bishop Bheki Lukhele, leader of the All Nations church, faces allegations of amassing questionable wealth following revelations from documents obtained by the Eswatini Financial Intelligence Unit (EFIU), as reported by the AmaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism in collaboration with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). Lukhele stands accused of misappropriating over R200 million from bank accounts associated with the African National Congress (ANC).
According to reports, AmaBhungane obtained access to the leaked documents through Swazi Secrets, an ongoing cross-border investigative journalism project in partnership with the ICIJ.
The investigation reveals that since 2015, more than R200 million has been transferred from South Africa to Eswatini, ending up in the bank accounts of Archbishop Lukhele and the All Nations church. Allegedly, much of this money was facilitated with the involvement of eSwatini’s Belgian Ambassador, Sibusisiwe Mngomezulu, who is the brother of King Mswati’s wife, Inkhosikati LaMbikiza.
Ambassador Mngomezulu, a former employee of ANC investment company Chancellor House, is alleged to have served as a conduit for money laundering in collaboration with the bishop. A suspicious transaction report submitted to the EFIU by First National Bank (FNB) in 2019 raised concerns about the origin of funds deposited into Lukhele and the church’s accounts, linking them to the ANC’s election fund account. The EFIU subsequently shared this information with the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) in South Africa, initiating a cross-border investigation into the individuals and entities involved.
Despite these allegations, Lukhele failed to respond to inquiries from AmaBhungane regarding the EFIU’s findings. In a previous interview with Swaziland News, Lukhele claimed to own multiple properties, including flats rented out to white tenants in South Africa and Eswatini.
Furthermore, the report discloses Lukhele’s acquisition of Mbabane Swallows, a football club, amid the global COVID-19 pandemic. Leaked bank statements reveal the club’s financial stability, contrasting with other struggling teams in the league.
In April 2020, the EFIU submitted its findings to Eswatini’s anti-corruption agency, suggesting possible illegal transactions facilitated by Mngomezulu. The agency highlighted the suspicious nature of fund disposal from Mngomezulu’s account shortly after receipt.
