MPS: STOP LABOUR, JUSTICE MINISTERS’ SALARIES

LOBAMBA – MPs made history yesterday by unanimously deciding to stop the salaries of Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Winnie Magagula and Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Sibusiso Shongwe.

This is because Magagula failed to register workers’ federations as was expected late last year, and Shongwe has failed to reach common ground with his ministry’s Principal Secretary (PS) Thembinkosi Mamba. 

Their impasse has somewhat crippled the operations of the ministry and affected some departments under its portfolio.
Both Cabinet ministers are expected to rectify what is wrong with their ministries or else they will not get their salaries for April, which is the start of the government financial year. Their budgets were transferred to Head 60, which means they cannot have access to it. For Magagula, only her 2016/17 office budget of E1 023 660 was put on ‘ice’, which means her direct staff such as her cooker, gardener, chauffer and personal assistant and two security guards will not get aid.

There was no specific timeframe given to her to ensure the registration of federations, but it will be in her best interest to get it done soon. For Shongwe, it will depend on how fast Prime Minister Sibusiso Dlamini springs up to action as he was tasked by Parliament to resolve his issues with the PS within seven days.

Not only is Shongwe’s office budget as a minister affected, but his ministry which was due to receive E51.7 million in the next financial year.  Other departments under his ministry include the Correctional Services which was due to receive E371m, Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) E10.9m, Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) E11.6m and Judiciary E50.4m.

All this transpired during the MPs’ sitting in the House of Assembly where Orders of the Day included the adoption of portfolio committees’ reports.
When it came to the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Ministry’s report, Hhukwini MP Saladin was the first to get the ball rolling when he expressed scepticism in passing the budget  into a ministry where there is strife.

He said the minister himself made it clear last week that it was difficult to work in the ministry, hence the need to investigate the ministry. MP Saladdin suggested that the ministry’s report be put aside while serious efforts are made to solve the problems there. “Why give money to an unproductive ministry?” he asked.

Manzini North MP Jan Sithole shared similar sentiments and suggested that a select committee be appointed to look into the matter. Manzini South MP Owen Nxumalo bluntly submitted that no money will be taken to such a ministry. “Iyaphi lemali, aseyime (Where is this money going, let it stop) until the minister is able to work with the PS,” submitted Nxumalo. 

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: