I was never Ecsoponent director – Dave Van Niekerk

Mbabane- Following the widespread speculation, Dave Van Niekerk has insisted that he was never a director at Ecsoponent limited.

The country or the Swazi investors rather have been led to assume or believe that Dave Van Niekerk was the director of Ecsponent Limited and had a hand in the misuse of the E340 million belonging to Swazi investors.

Niekerk responded to these speculations through a press release, ‘’ For the last several weeks, MHMK Group have actively sought to drive a campaign against myself and business associates in Eswatini. They have promulgated a narrative that I was previously a director of Ecsponent Limited, now ESW Investments Holdings ‘’(ESW’) and that I was somehow involved in the company’s financial woes.’’ 

About E340 million worth of savings which were invested by 1500 Emaswati into the Ecsponent Eswatini limited was allegedly squandered. The savings were allegedly to have been transferred to different investments without the consent of the investors and later allegedly wasted. Niekerk’s name began showing up after it was believed that he and Edwin J Soonious were in the country and let alone were suspected to have worked together in Ecsoponent Eswatini (PTY) LTD and GetBucks South Africa.

Niekerk disputed the speculations of his involvement in the Ecsponent. “I would like to make it very clear, as we have on several occasions either in court or in response to these articles that, I was never the director Escoponent Limited nor was I involved in its affairs at any point in the company’s existence,’’ states Dan Van Niekerk.

Niekerk states that the MHMK Group CEO, Manyere and ESW Investment Group CEO Bonginkosi Max Mkhonza have tried to sabotage and frustrate his business in Eswatini. According to him, this was done through the ill-founded ex parte application initiated by the ESW holding the false and defamatory allegations and without any legal basis to obtain an order which he believed was to detain him in Eswatini and that order granted by the court.

Some time back, it was stated that Niekerk alongside the Edwin J Soonious fled the country as they were expected to remain in Eswatini.

The purposes of the order was to ensure that Niekerk and Soonious be detained until the finalisation of a legal action to be launched against them for the payment of the funds over the E340 million as per the order issued out by Judge Justice Mavuso.

 According to Niekerk, the court application came to his attention on the August 1,2023 and that they were not enlightened or served with the copy of an application or the court order indicating that it was given permission from the high court to restrain them from fleeing the country.

  ‘’following my opposition, and the filing of an answering affidavit ESW withdrew the application. Despite such withdrawal, the order has apparently not been discharged.

Furthermore, Niekerk declared in his statement that he had presented factual information on what transpired to the Ecsponent matter at the hands of George Manyere. He further highlighted that he had provided this information that he and his attorney were able to acquire to the relevant authorities in the Kingdom of Eswatini for further investigations.

 ‘’ I remain available to return to the Kingdom and answer any questions regarding my involvement in any entities I have been involved in,’’ says Niekerk insinuating that he has nothing to hide.

 Despite the scandal slammed at him, Niekerk noted that his commitment to Eswatini has not stopped and reassured that he will continue to invest in and contribute to the growth of the financial services industries to the benefit of Emaswati.