Paid for overseas jobs, now they want refunds

MBABANE – A number of people are demanding refunds after jobs they were promised in different countries around the world, including Luxembourg, through businesswoman Welile Sigwane and her company, failed to materialise.

Some of the countries are the Netherlands, Poland, Northern Macedonia and Thailand.

In the Netherlands, it is said all nationalities aged between 18 and 50 are targeted for employment with an initial contract of a year. The employment is said to provide health insurance and housing courtesy of the employer, while those recruited could be remunerated a net salary ranging between the equivalent of E67 743 – E106 438.

In Poland, the agency commits to securing employment for production line workers and warehouse workers. Candidates recruited are, as per the advert, set to gain a work permit valid for 1.5 years and the salary is set at E22 430.40 for the production line worker. The advert for recruitment also provides the same perks for warehouse workers.

For North Macedonia, construction workers or general labourers were the target market. They were informed that they stood to earn between E13 078.80 (€700) and E23 355 (€1 200). There were also opportunities in the adverts for packing operators, production line workers and warehouse workers.

There was also an advert for English teachers in Thailand. These purported job opportunities were listed as April 8, 2026, with the latest having been uploaded yesterday afternoon.

This publication has been contacted by some of the alleged victims, who have raised concerns over money they say they paid towards securing the overseas jobs.

Some of those who contacted the publication also showed proof of payments made in connection with the alleged job placements.

Three women have since taken Welile, two companies and Dumsile Sigwane to court, seeking the repayment of a combined E60 000 they allegedly paid as deposits for jobs in Luxembourg.

The three women are Siphelele Sikosana, Lindelwa Lokothwayo and Siphelele Vilakati.

They are separately suing Welile Dumsile Sigwane, Sonrize Consultancy (Pty) Ltd and Sunrize Stationery (Pty) Ltd in the magistrates court for the Hhohho Region. The plaintiffs are represented by Sibusiso Mabuza of S.T. Mabuza in Mbabane.

The claims are contained in separate summonses filed in court. The veracity of the claims is yet to be contested in court.

According to the court papers, the women entered into job placement agreements with Sonrize Consultancy, represented by Welile, under which the consultancy would facilitate their employment in Luxembourg.

Luxembourg is a small landlocked country in Western Europe.

The plaintiffs alleged that each of them was required to pay E6 000 in total fees for the job placement.

According to the summonses, E20 000 was payable as a deposit, while the balance was to be paid after successful job placement.

The women alleged that after paying the deposits, they were expected to travel to Luxembourg within two weeks to start working.

However, the promised employment did not materialise, according to their court papers.

They are now seeking the return of their E20 000 deposits, together with interest and legal costs. Lokothwayo’s summons states that she entered into a written job placement agreement with Sonrize Consultancy in December 2025.She alleged that the agreement was entered into in Mbabane, with Welile Sigwane representing the consultancy in her capacity as a director.

Lokothwayo further alleged that she was never provided with a copy of the written agreement.

According to her summons, she paid E20 000 into the bank account of Sunrize Stationery in two transactions made on December 12 and 15, 2025. She alleged that the payments were made following instructions from Welile and Dumsile Sigwane. However, Lokothwayo alleged that she was not placed in the promised job in Luxembourg.

She claimed that the failure to secure the promised employment constituted a material breach of the agreement. Lokothwayo further alleged that, despite making a lawful demand for a refund, the defendants had failed or refused to repay her E20 000.

Sikosana and Vilakati have made substantially similar claims in their respective summonses. Their court papers also state that they entered into job placement agreements with Sonrize Consultancy for employment in Luxembourg.

They alleged that they each paid E20000 deposits into the bank account of Sunrize Stationery following instructions from the Sigwanes.

The plaintiffs alleged that Sonrize Consultancy failed to fulfill its part of the agreements by not securing the promised employment in Luxembourg. They are seeking cancellation of their respective agreements and repayment of their E20 000 deposits. They are also seeking interest at the rate of six per cent per annum, costs of suit and further or alternative relief.

The three claims amount to E60 000, excluding interest and costs.

The summonses cite Welile as a director of Sonrize Consultancy and Sunrize Stationery.

Dumsile Sigwane is also cited as a director of the two companies.

The two companies are cited as having their principal place of business at Office No. 8, Sokhamlilo Building, Mbabane.

The defendants have been given an opportunity to enter an appearance to defend the claims.

The court papers show that the plaintiffs are seeking cancellation of the agreements, repayment of their deposits, interest and costs.

The post Paid for overseas jobs, now they want refunds appeared first on Times of Eswatini.