Business Eswatini (BE) has rejected Maloma Colliery's bid to rejoin the country's leading private sector representative body. The organization cited Maloma's previous membership record, including outstanding subscription obligations and a history of accounts not being settled within the prescribed membership period. As a result, BE is refunding Maloma E249 102.83, with its finance department coordinating the payment.
The rejection adds a new dimension to a membership dispute involving Inyatsi Group Holdings, a conglomerate with interests spanning construction, telecommunications, and mining. Inyatsi Group Holdings, chaired by businessman Michelo Shakantu, had taken an executive decision to align its entities with BE through new membership applications, re-admissions, and upgrades. Maloma Colliery was among the companies identified by Inyatsi as having experience within BE.
BE's decision was based on its Constitution, specifically Article 2.1.2(c), which provides for applications to be assessed against membership qualification criteria established by the Board. The organization also cited provisions governing the timely payment of subscriptions and cessation of membership where subscriptions remain unpaid beyond the prescribed period. BE's CEO, E. Nathi Dlamini, signed the letter informing Maloma of the rejection.
The Maloma letter provides a specific explanation for why at least one of Inyatsi Group's attempts to return to BE has failed. Inyatsi Group had confirmed that several of its companies, including Maloma Colliery, Lidwala Insurance, and The Clinic Group, were seeking places within BE's Platinum and Gold categories. The combined annual subscriptions of these companies could potentially exceed half a million Emalangeni.
The membership impasse involving Inyatsi Group companies has drawn links to the bitter governance battle that engulfed the Eswatini National Provident Fund (ENPF). However, neither BE nor Inyatsi has attributed Maloma's rejection or the handling of the other applications to the ENPF dispute. The ENPF governance impasse was a major issue, with a parliamentary select committee concluding that legislative ambiguity and competing governance traditions were central to the crisis.
BE has continued to emphasize the seriousness with which it views the ENPF dispute. At its annual general meeting, the organization identified the ENPF governance impasse as one of the most serious institutional challenges it faced during the 2025/26 year. BE's Industrial Relations and Social Policy Strategic Overview highlighted the need for a governance framework prioritizing fiduciary integrity and protection of members' contributions.
The rejection of Maloma Colliery's application and the refund of E249 102.83 have significant implications for Inyatsi Group's plans to rejoin BE. The move also highlights the importance of adhering to membership requirements and the timely payment of subscriptions. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how Inyatsi Group will respond to the rejection and what impact it will have on the company's future plans.
Key points
- Business Eswatini rejected Maloma Colliery's membership bid due to past unpaid subscription obligations.
- The rejection is linked to a larger membership dispute involving Inyatsi Group Holdings.
- The situation highlights the importance of adhering to membership requirements and timely payment of subscriptions.
