It has come to my attention that there is a concerted effort to malign, discredit and defame my name by the MHMK Group and their associates.
For the last several weeks, the MHMK Group through the Eswatini Times, 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 Escponent Limited, now ESW Investment Holdings Limited (“ESW”) and that I was somehow involved in the company’s financial woes. 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 a director of Escponent Limited nor was I involved in its affairs at any point in the company’s existence.
This group of individuals led by the MHMK Group CEO, George Manyere and ESW Investment Group CEO Bonginkosi Max Mkhonza, have attempted to frustrate my business dealings in Eswatini. This included an ill-founded ex parte application brought by ESW containing false and defamatory allegations and without any legal basis to obtain an order to detain me in Eswatini which order inexplicably was granted. Following my opposition and the filing of an answering affidavit ESW withdrew the application. Despite such withdrawal, the order has apparently not been discharged.
In this regard I have, at great personal cost actively sought all legal remedies available to me, and I have successfully interdicted the Eswatini Times from publishing defamatory articles about me in the recent past and have instituted defamation proceedings against them.
I have presented as a matter of fact the facts of what truly occurred in the Ecsponent tragedy at the hands of George Manyere. I have provided this information that my attorneys and I have been able to obtain to the relevant authorities in Eswatini for their further investigation.
I remain committed to doing business in Eswatini. I will continue to invest and contribute to the growth of the financial services industries to the benefit of the emaSwati’s. I remain available to return to the Kingdom and answer any questions regarding my involvement in any entities I have been involved in.
Dave Van Niekerk
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