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E135 000 FOOD FOR COPS, WARDERS GUARDING EXAMS

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MBABANE – Government has spent about E135 000 on food for police officers and warders manning schools since the beginning of the examinations.
The food is given to security personnel who are guarding schools since the beginning of the external examinations on Monday.


About three security personnel are stationed in each school and are reportedly invigilating in some. However, some of the big schools have more than three security personnel.


The three security personnel comprise two police officers and a member of His Majesty’s Correctional Services.
The country has about 300 high schools. On average, a balanced meal costs about E30.


This was multiplied by the number of schools (300); followed by the five days of the week which the security officers have been providing security to the schools.


This averages E27 000 per day and tallies to E135 000 per week.
Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed that the police officers were provided with food.
She said every police officer who was not in his or her duty-station had refreshments catered for.


On the question of whether the officers would be remunerated, Vilakati said they would not get any compensation as they were engaged in normal duties as any other day.
Meanwhile, the acting Prime Minister, Dr. Vincent Mhlanga, said whether the officers would be remunerated or not was under the scope of their commissioners.


The National Commissioner of Police is, Isaac Magagula, while HMCS Commissioner General is Mzuthini Ntshangase.
Mhlanga further said, “They are on duty because there is a crisis.”
He said the security personnel were called to render their services in an effort to support the pupils who had been in school for 12 years and had already prepared for the examinations.


“Teachers have their grievances and we understand them, but there is no government at this instance that can address their issues. Also, some of their issues will need the input of Parliament, which is yet to be sworn in.”


Mhlanga said government had no option than to use available resources to make sure that the pupils sat for their examinations.
The HMCS commissioner general could not be reached for comment on the issue as his phone rang unanswered.

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