Leon Visser secured the King's Golf Cup title with an 11-under-par performance in Eswatini, attracting global competitors.
South African professional Leon Visser claimed the King's Golf Cup, finishing 11-under-par with a three-round total of 205 at Ezulwini Golf and Country Club. The Big Easy Tour event saw over 120 golfers from around the world compete for a prize package of E1 million, with E700,000 allocated to the professional field. Visser's victory came by two shots over Vaughn van Deventer and two others who tied for second place.
Mandla Dlamini Jnr was the top local player, winning the E100,000 first prize in the E300,000 local category for emaSwati golfers. Jabulani Vilakati and Brandon-Jude Rennie secured second and third place respectively in the local competition. Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs Jane Mkhonta congratulated Visser and highlighted the tournament's ambition for growth, noting King Mswati III's call to raise E10 million for future editions.
The King's Golf Cup, now a Big Easy Tour event, aims to become a major fixture on the African golfing calendar. This year's edition attracted E3.24 million in sponsorship, an increase of E150,000. Organizers are working towards King Mswati III's vision of a E5 million winner's prize, signaling a significant expansion for the tournament's international profile and prize structure.
Why it mattersProfessional golfers, including Leon Visser and local players like Mandla Dlamini Jnr, benefited from prize money and opportunities at the King's Golf Cup.
Read in ASJ →Contractors, workers, and service delivery are impacted as approved funds for infrastructure projects remain unavailable, causing significant delays.
Government projects worth approximately E600 million have stalled due to slow cash flow, affecting contractors, workers, and service delivery nationwide. Although funds were approved, they have not materialized to finance awarded contracts, leading to a growing backlog of unfinished work. Projects spanning schools, roads, water infrastructure, and livestock dipping tanks are now delayed, with contractors awaiting payment and workers facing income loss.
The Microprojects Programme, responsible for dipping tank projects for the Ministry of Agriculture, is heavily impacted. This financial strain not only hinders infrastructure delivery but also concerns livestock farmers who rely on these facilities. Communities are waiting for essential services, including classrooms for improved education and completed dipping tanks for cattle owners, with some projects overdue, especially as the rainy season approaches.
The cash flow challenges extend beyond the Microprojects Programme to capital projects across multiple ministries, including Health, Education, Economic Planning, Defence, and Labour. Entities like the Rural Development Programme, Royal Eswatini Police Service, and His Majesty’s Correctional Services are also affected. The Ministry of Public Works and Transport's road construction projects are similarly disrupted, leaving contractors unpaid and officials unable to visit sites.
Why it mattersContractors and workers are directly affected by the lack of payment and income, while communities face delays in essential services like schools and water infrastructure.
Read in ASJ →The exchange aims to become a national engine for wealth creation and economic transformation by 2030.
The Eswatini Stock Exchange (ESE) has introduced its Kwakhanya 2030 corporate strategy, designed to reposition the exchange as a primary driver of national wealth creation, business expansion, and economic transformation. ESE Chief Executive Officer Simanga Mdluli unveiled the plan, which means illumination, symbolizing a new dawn for Eswatini’s capital markets and increased visibility and accessibility of investment opportunities for citizens.
Mdluli stated that the strategy requires a fundamental shift in perception, viewing the ESE not just as a trading platform but as a national hub for wealth generation. The goal is to provide businesses, investors, and individuals with greater opportunities to engage in economic growth, enabling entrepreneurs to raise capital, pension funds to invest productively, and young people to invest directly via mobile phones.
The strategy emphasizes that this transformation is a collective national project requiring collaboration among various stakeholders. Mdluli also urged the Eswatini Revenue Service to implement targeted tax incentives, such as Tax-Free Investment Accounts, to stimulate investment and broaden participation in capital markets, fostering a stronger saving and investing culture.
Why it mattersThe Kwakhanya 2030 strategy aims to create an environment where all emaSwati can become stakeholders in the nation's prosperity by increasing access to capital markets.
Read in ASJ →Eswatini Railways joined forces with Transnet and Mozambique's rail authority to present integrated logistics solutions at the trade fair.
Eswatini Railways (ESR) hosted Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique (CFM) and South Africa's Transnet Freight Rail and Transnet Engineering at the 58th Eswatini International Trade Fair. This joint exhibition aimed to showcase a unified regional logistics system, allowing customers and businesses direct engagement with four key railway operators. ESR Marketing and Customer Services Manager Vusani Simelane stated the initiative highlights growing regional railway partnerships and opportunities for integrated logistics.
The collaboration represents a significant expansion of ESR's regional ties, demonstrating how railway operators are increasingly cooperating across borders to enhance trade routes and connectivity. This joint stand, which attracted attention from King Mswati III, reinforces Eswatini's strategic position. Simelane described the development as an 'active and living partnership,' building on ESR's collaboration with Transnet Engineering from the previous year's trade fair.
The expanded partnership allows the railway entities to collectively demonstrate the potential of interconnected regional rail infrastructure. Businesses can explore how rail facilitates cross-border goods movement and links Eswatini's industries to major regional ports. A key element highlighted was the Eastern Corridor, providing a rail connection from Matsapha to the Port of Maputo via Mpaka and Goba, strengthening Eswatini's link to the Mozambican port.
Why it mattersInvestors are affected by the presentation of integrated regional logistics solutions that could improve trade route efficiency and connectivity.
Read in ASJ →Angolan side CD Primeiro De Agosto secured a significant first-leg advantage over Eswatini's Green Mamba in the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.
CD Primeiro De Agosto established a commanding 2-0 lead against Eswatini's Green Mamba in the first leg of their TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup tie. The Angolan club took a crucial step towards the group stages with goals from an own goal by Xolani in the 53rd minute and a late strike from substitute Florindo Tobe Machado in the 85th minute. The return fixture is scheduled for the weekend of September 11-13, 2026, in Luanda.
Green Mamba faced significant fatigue, having played five matches in four days leading up to the encounter, including back-to-back Trade Fair Cup fixtures. Despite the demanding schedule, the Eswatini team had opportunities, with Mthunzi ‘Xavi’ Mkhontfo's long-range effort in the first half and Sibongakonkhe Silenge's attempt from the halfway line in the second half testing the Agosto goalkeeper. The Angolan team, however, maintained control and capitalized on their chances.
The match, attended by Eswatini Football Association CEO Frederick Mngomezulu and PLE CEO Pat ‘Kungumusa’ Vilakati, saw Agosto deliver a professional away performance. Green Mamba's coach Dumsani ‘DU’ Makhanya made tactical substitutions at halftime, which initially sparked a brighter spell for the hosts. However, Agosto's defensive solidity and timely offensive plays ultimately secured their victory, leaving Green Mamba with a difficult task in the second leg.
Why it mattersGreen Mamba's football club has been put in a difficult position to advance in the CAF Confederation Cup after losing the first leg 2-0.
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