Mbabane – A 30-year-old man who swindled unsuspecting buyers by selling them non-existent electronics told the court he turned to fraud out of desperation to pay for his sister’s education.
Machawe Fakudze, of Gamula, appeared before Magistrate C. Thwala at the Mbabane Magistrate Court today facing two counts of theft by false pretenses. Explaining his motives during mitigation, Fakudze claimed severe family hardships drove him to crime, stating he was deeply tempted to break the law because he wanted to raise funds to get his sister back into the classroom.
The court heard that Fakudze lives with his grandmother and younger siblings who depend entirely on him in an area lacking employment opportunities. He also supports three children with an unemployed partner who is currently a student. Labeling his actions a mistake, Fakudze pleaded for leniency as a first-time offender and requested time to repay his victims, noting that he recently secured a job and has already put aside a portion of the money.
According to the charge sheet, Fakudze’s first offense occurred on April 29, 2025, near the Lobamba area in the Hhohho region, where he unlawfully defrauded Thabo Mamba of E4,000 in cash by falsely pretending he was selling a PlayStation 4 console. The second count details that on April 24, 2026, near Mlindazwe, he defrauded Menzi Magongo of E1,500 by falsely claiming he was selling a Samsung S20 smartphone.
When his right to legal representation was explained at the start of the proceedings, Fakudze elected to conduct his own defense and pleaded guilty to both counts.
Magistrate Thwala convicted and sentenced Fakudze to a fine of E2,000 or one year in prison for the first count, and a fine of E1,000 or one year in prison for the second count, totaling a E3,000 fine or two years in jail. The court further ordered him to fully compensate both Mamba and Magongo for their financial losses.
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