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Waya waya strike far from over

13/07/2012 00:00:00 TIMOTHY SIMELANE

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MANZINI – Teachers resolved to continue with their strike action dubbed ‘Waya Waya’, until government pays the 4.5 per cent salary increment.

In their meeting at the SNAT Centre yesterday, the teachers unanimously agreed that they would not return to class.

They said this after they were updated by Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) Secretary General, Muzi Mhlanga on progress in the court cases and developments in protest actions last week. Mhlanga said teachers had resolved to file a second notice to strike and to further conduct another balloting process as per advice from their lawyers.

"The court said there was no evidence that we were on strike from June 20 to July 6. Ever since then, we have also had sympathy from parents who met at the Bosco Skills Centre. From there we went to Mbabane on Friday where police and correctional services officers brutally assaulted teachers," alleged Mhlanga. He also said several SNAT members were required to file affidavits in court as government was insisting that they disturbed teachers and instigated violence during their consultation exercise (vusela). President Sibongile Mazi-buko said teachers had demolished all their bridges such that it would be pointless to turn back at this stage. "If we turn back we will subject ourselves to embarrassment," she said.

All teachers who spoke on the issue said the consultative exercise must continue. Mandla Sibandze said teachers must adopt govern-ment’s attitude of not caring about their plight.

"I say we do not return to class until we get the 4.5 per cent," he said. Mandla Mangwe also said the strike should go ahead.

He called for all teachers to implement the resolution and refrain from working until the 4.5 per cent demand has been achieved.

Sikelela Dlamini said teachers had to appreciate that the rights of an organisation supersede the rights of an individual.

"This means we are in order with this vusela exercise. We will continue to coerce more members to join the exercise," he said.

When summarising, the president said the general consensus from all teachers was that the consultations should go ahead until the 4.5 percent is released.

‘Promotions show money is there’

MANZINI – The former President of SNAT Phineas Magagula said the promotions anno-unced by the Police Commissioner Isaac Magagula were evidence that government has money.

He was addressing teachers at the SNAT Centre during a meeting attended by over 7 000 SNAT members yesterday.

Magagula took teachers through a chronological example of the increments of 82 police officers.

"If you promote a constable to a sergeant you are increasing his annual salary from about E72 000 to E92 000. From a sergeant to an inspector, the salary is increased to about E135 000.

"From an inspector to an assistant superintendent the salary is increased to about E169 000.ã€€ã€€ From assistant superintendent to superintendent the salary is increased to about E213 000.

"From there to senior superintendent the salary is increased to E260 000. The assistant commissioner stands at E319 000," he alleged.

Magagula said the summary of what he was saying was that government could easily pay teachers the 4.5 per cent increment.

He also said there was plenty money in the allowances that are in Finance Circular No. 1 of 2010. He counted the politicians’ allowances, such as entertainment, cellular phone, leave, medical aid and others.

He said politicians were also entitled to tax reimbursement after their term of office.

Government Spokesperson Per-cy Simelane, said Magagula failed to take into consideration that the promotions in the police service had been budgeted for last year.

"Every year there are budgets for that. If the money is not enough promotions are done according to the amount that is available. Otherwise these are planned in around October, November and December."

Comments

Percy Simelane is truly unintelligent. Of course the police promotions were budgeted for, just like Circular 1. The issue here is that government cannot afford to be going ahead with increments in salaries for police officers while at the same time claiming not to have money to increase other civil servants' salaries. If government did not have money then it would have reneged on the promotions due to a genuine shortage of funds for the future and out of goodwill to the other civil servants.
July 13, 2012, 1:00 PM, Richard Bulunga (richieb@gmail.com)

Siyabonga Percy lokwekutsi uvete kutsi ninguhulumende aninendzaba nelikusasa lensha yakaNGWANE. Uma circular no. 1 asekhona kusho kwekutsi imali ikhona. Sicela eme Percy na Bhembe lokudlala ngebantfwabetfu batsi abaye esikolweni atikahle kutsi bothishela batsi batawubuyela eclasini bangatfola E4.50
July 13, 2012, 1:00 PM, Welcome (volkom28@gmail.com)

Waya waya will end when gov gives civil servants what is due to them. This Liqoqo summoning the PM is just a smoke screen 4 inactivity from the tinkundla leadership. Muti, violence, courts and stupid reasoning wil not stop this strike. Instead other workers wil join until the whole country is at a standstil. Only proper and sober reasonin wil end this empasse
July 13, 2012, 1:00 PM, Mthobisi gumedze (Mrgumedze@gmail.com )

Percy has run short of words. Ncono abindze waSimelane, kulula nje kutsi atsi 'no comments' kunekuhhema nje. Circular No 1 akasuswe before kuphele lomnyaka, or else sinikwe at least lo 4.5%. Phela next year, the so-called politicians will take their hefty gratuity(and other benefits) to leave the government coffers dry. Sebadlile nje bekunene, it's time we share the loaf........ ha ha ha!
July 13, 2012, 1:00 PM, yini? (dlaminiyini@gmail.com)

Ngabe vele sitawusitwa ngubani kunati tinkinga nati, kujabula lowatiko
July 13, 2012, 1:00 PM, Juba (khanya.mhlanga@gmail.com)

Uyakhuluma Masitsela fane we cant reach His Majesty ngobe botisondzetile abafuni siye eNkhosini. These promotions and recruiting exercises show imali ikhona lakaNgwane kuphela nje idliwa bantfu banye.phambili `waya waya` until we get paid.
July 13, 2012, 1:00 PM, tsutsu (n/a)

My suggession to our brave teachers......First of all I support them in whatever resolution they take. Bt I would argue them to select a standby commitee that will take over and continue to mobilize in case the current leaders are detained by the government of tinkhundla. I say this because once they lose their leaders their mission will definately fail and that would mark their defeat. This is Swaziland.
July 13, 2012, 1:00 PM, ZINJAZIKHAMUNWABU (cyah.khumalo@gmail.com)

Let me tell you something that you guys, probably know or dont know. Security forces, the army, the police,etc had their salary reviewed and they did get their salary increase. In return they are conditioned to beat up, tear gas, etc anyone that's a threat to the regime or government. In my opinion and if they are serious about the so-called wage bill. They must start with the forces, stop the hiring and giving them the high perks at the tax payers expense. I mean this is far from over. The Lord will hear their cry's ( Tax payers and the oppressed). The very forces are at war with the taxpayer and the citizens of this country. The Bridges have been burnt by the teachers, theres no turning back now, solider on teachers I say, fight for whats rightfully yours. You maybe hungry for a while but eternal democracy will take place.....
July 13, 2012, 1:00 PM, Ash Mond (ashlym@webmail.co.za)

Viva the spirit of Waya Waya Viva.Bothishela yibambeni lapho,there is money in Swaziland.Ebe bekute imali:1 ngabe indiza ayikho.2 no promotions,coz promotions mean salary increment.3 ngabe kute kudla lokutsengelwa emasotja.4 Lokugijima ngetindiza ngabe sekumile.5 circular No1 ngabe ususiwe.6 there will be no recruitment.Sooner I will be with you.Foward Waya Waya Forward
July 13, 2012, 1:00 PM, MBONGISENI (mbongisenimuzikhumalo@gmail.com)