TUCOSWA WANTS COO OUT

MBABANE – It never rains but pours for Nedbank Swaziland Limited as TUCOSWA now wants the bank’s Chief Operations Officer (COO) removed.

TUCOSWA is the acronym for Trade Union Congress of Swaziland. The bank’s employees are currently on strike demanding a 10 per cent cost of living adjustment.
TUCOSWA yesterday filed an application in the High Court where it is seeking an order declaring that the entry permit issued in favour of the COO, James Peter Matthews, was invalid and of no force and effect. Matthews is a South African citizen.

Respondents in the matter are Nedbank Swaziland Limited, Chief Immigration Officer, chairman of the Training and Localisation Committee and the attorney general.

Application

The union is further seeking an order directing that the issuance of the entry permit to the COO, without the application for such permit having been tabled for consideration and recommendation by the Training and Localisation Committee, be declared irregular and a breach of procedure applicable to the processing of applications for entry permits.

TUCOSWA further wants the court to declare the employment of Matthews by Nedbank Swaziland Limited as one that was irregular.
The union argued that in Swaziland, the application and granting of entry permits to foreign nationals who were not prohibited immigrants in the country, was done by government and regulated by the Immigration Act No.17 of 1982 and the Immigration Regulation s of 1987.
According to TUCOSWA, in addition to these laws, there was an established procedure for the consideration and where appropriate, granting of entry permits for foreign nationals who find employment or are contracted in Swaziland.

Regulation

“In terms of Regulation 6 of the Immigration Regulation, an applicant for an entry permit or the renewal of such permit must submit a duly completed prescribed form being Form 3 to the regulations, to the Chief Immigration Officer and a copy of same to the Training and Localisation Department,” submitted the union.
In his founding affidavit, acting Secretary General of TUCOSWA Mduduzi Gina stated that during or around the month of June 2017, Nedbank Swaziland employed Matthews in the position of COO.  He informed the court that Matthews was in possession of a Class A Entry Permit No.T266/2001.

“It is submitted that the said entry permit was irregularly issued by the second respondent (chief Immigration officer) and is therefore invalid,” submitted the acting secretary general.

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