SNAT FIVE DESCRIBE EXERCISE AS A SHAM

MBABANE – The five SNAT members who want the commission of inquiry stopped have described the whole probing exercise as a sham.

In their application, they stated that if the commission was allowed to commence its work, it would not only deplete further the already depleted coffers of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) but would also difuse the need for the general meeting.

“Furthermore, the commission is a plot by the respondents (NEC) to avoid appearing before the members and answer or account for their alleged corruption activities.”
These are allegations contained in an affidavit whose veracity is still to be tested in court and the National Executive Council (NEC) is yet to respond.

The teachers prayed that the NEC should be ordered to pay costs of this application for refusing to reconvene the extraordinary meeting. The matter returns to court tomorrow for arguments.

Failing

The teachers took the SNAT NEC to court after failing to convene the extraordinary meeting and now want the commission of inquiry stopped.
The five teachers are Mbongwa Dlamini, Nicholus Dlamini, Sabatha Mkhonta, Sibusiso Dlamini and Mcolisi Ngcamphalala.
They have since filed an application at the Industrial Court where they are seeking, inter alia, an order interdicting the SNAT NEC from proceeding with the setting up of the commission of inquiry and/or engaging the services of a commission of inquiry.

Respondents in the matter are SNAT, Freedom Dlamini (President), Solomon Mabila, Muzi Mhlanga (Secretary General), Sikelela Dlamini, Thabani Thwala, Senzo Mazibuko, Simangela Mmema, Boy Dlamini and Bongiwe Khumalo. The teachers also want the court to direct SNAT President Freedom to reconvene an extraordinary general meeting of all bona fide members of the organisation on or by November 29, 2014 (Saturday).

Directing

The five teachers are further seeking an order directing the SNAT president to reissue notices of an extraordinary meeting to all members by letter to all branches and cause such notice to be known in the local media.
In the application they stated that the allegations of corruption within SNAT and the Board of Trustees were of a very serious nature and of great interest to them.

They argued that if not properly dealt with, it would have the potential to bring the association to it knees.
“The respondents (SNAT National Executive Committee)  are trying by all means to evade accounting to the members of the association for their corrupt practices and tendencies by running to structures where their conduct will not be put under strict scrutiny and appropriate decisions to root out the corruption,” submitted the teachers.

They further informed the court that the respondents were saying the constitution of SNAT does not place any obligation on them to either appear and/or account before members of the association regarding the affairs or any decision made.

Aggrieved

The teachers told the court that they were aggrieved that the annual general meeting did not afford them the opportunity to exercise their rights in law as bona fide members of the association.
 “Further, the applicants (five teachers) are aggrieved that even the biennial conference is not open to any member of the association in order for them to exercise their rights in law as bona fide members,” they stated.

They contended that the only meeting where they and other members were allowed to exercise their rights in law was the extraordinary general meeting, which the NEC does not want to convene despite that they were compelled to do so by the court.

“Furthermore, an extraordinary general meeting is the appropriate forum where any member of the association gets the opportunity to scrutinise the actions of the offices, and, there is, therefore, a need for such a forum where the officers will have to account and members deliberate on the affairs of SNAT if the alleged rot is to be abated,” argued the teachers.

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