The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) has issued a stern warning to the public over a fraudulent Facebook account and scam that is allegedly using the name and voice of Deputy Prime Minister Senator Thulisile Dladla to deceive unsuspecting emaSwati into parting with their money.
In a statement released on June 23, 2026, the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office revealed that scammers have created a fake Facebook post accompanied by a cloned voice purported to be that of the Deputy Prime Minister.
The fraudulent scheme allegedly invites members of the public to deposit E5 000 into an organization claiming to be working in partnership with the DPM’s Office to build houses for vulnerable elderly citizens.
Government officials have categorically distanced themselves from the scheme, describing it as false, misleading, and designed to exploit the trust that citizens place in public institutions.
According to the Office, the scammers falsely claim that individuals who contribute E5 000 will become part of a housing initiative aimed at supporting vulnerable elderly people. 
Authorities have dismissed the claims as entirely fabricated and urged citizens not to engage with the scheme in any form.
A key revelation in the statement is that Deputy Prime Minister Senator Thulisile Dladla does not maintain a Facebook account, either in her personal capacity or as part of her official duties.
The Office emphasized that any social media account purporting to belong to the Deputy Prime Minister on Facebook should be treated with suspicion.
Authorities are encouraging citizens to exercise caution whenever they receive requests for money, particularly when such requests are made through social media platforms or unofficial channels.
“Members of the public are strongly warned not to fall victim to this scam and are urged to report any approaches of this nature immediately to the Royal Eswatini Police Service,” the statement said.
The warning comes at a time when online scams are becoming increasingly common, with fraudsters often exploiting economic hardships and people’s desire to access government assistance programmes.
To prevent confusion, the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office reiterated that all official communication and assistance programmes are communicated through established government channels.
The Office stressed that any legitimate information regarding government initiatives, social welfare programmes, housing projects, or public assistance schemes would be disseminated through its Communications Office and verified government platforms.
“All official communication and assistance from the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office is disseminated exclusively through the Office of Communications and published on the Deputy Prime Minister’s verified social media platforms and official government channels,” the statement explained.
