Background
Elias Dladla was born on September 1, 1927, at Ixopo, 60 miles south-west of Durban, South Africa.
Elias Dladla was born on September 1, 1927, at Ixopo, 60 miles south-west of Durban, South Africa.
Brought by his parents to Swaziland in 1938, he was educated at Matsapa Swazi National High School. He returned to South Africa to complete his secondary education at St Francis College, Marrianhill, Natal.
As the Ngwenyama’s representative for labour affairs at Peak Timbers Ltd the company established in 1947 by R. P. Stephens who became Finance Minister in June 1972-he enjoyed great respect for his fair judgments in labour relations issues. He became a member of the Central Education Advisory Board. He was chosen for the national executive of the ruling Imbokodvo party and nominated to the Swazi National Council.
Following his election to the House of Assembly for the Mlumati constituency in 1967 he was appointed to the Public Accounts Committee and the Finance Committee. Re-elected in May 1972 he got his first junior ministerial appointment in the reshuffled cabinet of June 1972. While the Prime Minister retained the portfolio of Education the day-to-day administration was assigned to Dladla.
A South African Swazi by birth, whose parents made their home in Swaziland when he was 11 years old. Sharp at assessing complex situations, he has been recruited to several committees. He has specialised in the field of labour relations and acquired a high reputation as a labour advisor.