CONVICTED former Member of Parliament (MP) Mthandeni Dube may soon regain his freedom after Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Prince Simelane delivered an extraordinary apology on his behalf to His Majesty King Mswati III during this year’s Correctional Services Day celebration.
A senior official within His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS) shared that Dube might be released next month.
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It is said such a development follows the king’s formal directive to the Prerogative of Mercy Committee, a body tasked with recommending pardons and community service alternatives for qualifying inmates.
This newspaper understands that preparations for the release of offenders through pardon have been ongoing for months.
The official revealed that the process has now reached advanced stages.
“While some will be leaving in the coming week, Dube’s release has been scheduled for October,” the source added, noting that the committee was still finalising the list of eligible inmates.
Dube, who represented the Ngwempisi Constituency in the House of Assembly, was arrested in July, 2021 alongside ex-Hosea MP Bacede Mabuza. Both were charged with contravening the Suppression of Terrorism Act of 2008 and the Sedition and Subversive Activities Act of 1938, following widespread pro-democracy protests in June 2021. The MPs were accused of inciting violence that resulted in damage to public infrastructure and several fatalities. They were denied bail and later convicted on July 15, 2024, receiving sentences of 18 and 25 years imprisonment, respectively. Prior to sentencing, they had been held in arbitrary detention for nearly two years.
During this year’s Correctional Services Day, a significant event held annually to celebrate correctional officers and highlight rehabilitation programmes for inmates, the king announced the establishment of the Prerogative of Mercy Committee.
His Majesty emphasised that the committee would assess which inmates qualified to serve the remainder of their sentences through community service and which could be pardoned entirely. The initiative was framed as part of strengthening forgiveness and reconciliation in the country, with the king stressing that genuine repentance should be met with mercy.
It was during this same event that Prince Simelane, with profound reverence, recounted the weighty mandate bestowed upon him by Dube.
Kneeling before the king, the minister conveyed Dube’s heartfelt plea in Siswati: “Bayethe Wena Waphakathi! Ngwenyama Ndvuna, ngitfunywe nguye umfana weNgwenyama Dlaliselwa, Mthandeni Dube… Utse; ufike uguce ngemadvolo omabili, ufike ungivuselele, ufike usho kwekutsi lunwele loludze Wena Waphakathi.” Loosely translated, this conveyed Dube’s profound humility and respect: “Your Majesty, I have been sent by your subject, Mthandeni Dube… He asked me to come before you kneeling down, greet you and then convey the message of long live Your Majesty.”
Prince Simelane further elaborated on the personal appeal, stating that Dube entrusted him with the responsibility of acting as his lincusa, a royal emissary traditionally tasked with navigating between ordinary citizens and the king.
The minister conveyed: “Nami wangishiya nencabhayi Dlaliselwa, watsi mnntfwanenkhosi, wena soyakuba lincusa lami… Bayethe Wena Waphakathi, wena longangetintsaba.”
This underscored the immense trust placed in the minister and reaffirmed the ceremonial significance of the role in mediating appeals to the Throne.
On the same day, Dube was observed actively participating in the programme, joining cultural performances and interacting with fellow inmates in the rehabilitation section; a sign of ongoing engagement in reintegration initiatives encouraged by the department.
During his address, the minister also reflected on the kingdom’s prevailing peace and security, noting the sense of safety and harmony experienced by citizens and attributing it to divine benevolence.
The senior official within HMCS confirmed that preparations for the release of inmates had reached advanced stages. The official explained that while some offenders were expected to be freed as early as next week, Dube’s release was likely to happen in October.
The source said the Prerogative of Mercy Committee was still finalising the list of eligible inmates, adding that the process of counting and confirming those who qualified took time.
“The committee is still finalising the list of qualifying inmates, and most of them are being carefully counted for eligibility. While some will be leaving in the coming days, Dube’s release is being timed for October,” the official said.
HMCS Deputy Public Relations Officer Assistant Chief Officer Baphelele Kunene said the department had been implementing the king’s directive for sometime and that preparations for the release of certain inmates were already underway.
He explained that on the occasion of the Correctional Services Day, His Majesty had pardoned some offenders and ordered that the Prerogative of Mercy Committee convene to ensure those deserving of release were duly considered. Kunene added that the process had reached advanced stages, but it remained difficult to determine at this point who would ultimately be released.
“We remain committed to keeping the public informed once all processes have been concluded,” he said.
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