Professional Overview
Hon. Shakantu began her legal career in private practice, where she focused on commercial law, litigation, conveyancing, and notarial work. During this period, she advised a wide range of clients, from small and medium enterprises to large corporations and parastatals. Her work included drafting and negotiating contracts, litigating commercial disputes, conducting arbitration proceedings, drafting legal opinions, and registering title deeds, bonds, and notarial deeds.
In 2003, she entered the corporate sector as in-house legal counsel at MTN Eswatini, later rising to Head of Corporate Services. Over a 12-year tenure, she gained extensive executive management and leadership experience, independently managing the legal and regulatory function while overseeing compliance, company secretarial services, corporate affairs, media relations, stakeholder engagement, and corporate social responsibility.
Her work at MTN Eswatini placed her at the centre of key regulatory and legal developments within the telecommunications sector. She played a leading role in the long-running legal dispute between MTN and the Eswatini Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (EPTC) concerning their Joint Venture Agreement, particularly around EPTC’s intention to establish its own mobile network while simultaneously acting as a shareholder and sector regulator.
Hon. Shakantu was a consistent advocate for regulatory reform in the communications sector. These efforts contributed to the enactment of the Swaziland Communications Commission Act No. 10 of 2013, which led to the establishment of the Eswatini Communications Commission (ESCCOM) on 31 July 2013. ESCCOM assumed regulatory authority over telecommunications, broadcasting, postal services, and radio spectrum management from EPTC and the Eswatini Television Authority.
Another notable milestone during her tenure at MTN Eswatini was the successful relocation of the company’s headquarters from Mbabane to Ezulwini. Working alongside then Chief Executive Officer Themba Mkhululi Khumalo, she supported the acquisition of property for the new headquarters and later advocated for the construction of a permanent head office, reflecting a long-term strategic vision for the organisation.
In 2014, she transitioned into the commercial division of MTN Eswatini as Head of Sales and Distribution, where she focused on driving business growth, expanding market share, and improving customer service delivery.
Private Practice and Consultancy
In 2015, Hon. Shakantu founded SwaziLaw Consulting, an advisory firm specialising in international business transactions and large-scale development projects across various sectors. The consultancy primarily supports international companies seeking to invest in Eswatini, as well as local businesses pursuing joint ventures with international partners.
In 2017, she established P P Dlamini and Associates, practising as an attorney, conveyancer, and notary public.
Her professional experience includes managing complex commercial transactions, drafting international contracts, negotiating and managing joint venture agreements involving multinational shareholders, and advising on corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder relations.
