In a case stirring national debate in eSwatini, Dumsile Dludlu is facing up to three years in prison for allegedly accessing her husband’s WhatsApp messages without his consent, according to reports from local media in eSwatini.

The charge stems from the country’s stringent Computer Crime and Cybercrime Act of 2022, which criminalizes unauthorized access to computer systems and carries severe penalties.

The law imposes fines of up to E500,000 (approximately R500,000) or prison terms of up to five years for breaches, underscoring its zero-tolerance stance on digital privacy violations.

Dludlu appeared before Principal Magistrate Fikile Nhlabatsi at the Mbabane Magistrates Court, where she pleaded not guilty to the charge of unauthorized access. She admitted to insulting her husband, Samukeliso Matse, based on messages she allegedly read, but denied the severity of the allegations outlined in police statements.

“I did insult him, but it wasn’t as severe as what’s in the police statement,” Dludlu told the court.

She was remanded out of custody pending her trial, scheduled for March 10, 2025.

This incident is not an isolated case. The Cybercrime Act has been at the center of multiple high-profile cases involving relationship disputes.

  • A Facebook Accusation: Nontsikelelo Lebohang Gina was recently arrested for allegedly harassing a woman she accused of having an affair with her husband. Gina reportedly made defamatory posts in a Facebook group, accusing the woman of using traditional charms to disrupt relationships.
  • Revenge Attack: In another incident, a woman was arrested for allegedly forcing another woman to undress and filming her during a confrontation over a relationship dispute.

Section 3 of the Computer Crime and Cybercrime Act explicitly prohibits unauthorized access to computer systems. Violators face penalties of up to E5,000 or three years in prison, with higher fines for more serious breaches.

Prince Mvilawemphi, CEO of the Eswatini Communications Commission (ESCCOM), emphasized the law’s implications:

“Viewing your love partner’s cellphone is now a crime in eSwatini. While the maximum fine is E300,000, a lenient judge may impose a lower penalty.”

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