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EX-MPS ‘CAMP’ AT FINANCE FOR THEIR GRATUITY

16/01/2019 08:52:00 BY NTOMBI MHLONGO

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MBABANE – It seems former legislators who are still awaiting their gratuity are prepared to do anything to get it.

This was evident yesterday when some of them made a stop at the Ministry of Finance offices to demand answers on why they had still not received their pay.
The former legislators started arriving at the ministry just after 11am, and most of them made it clear when they arrived at the reception that they had come to see the Principal Secretary, Bheki Bhembe or the Minister, Neal Rijkenburg.

After being allowed to go up the sixth floor of the inter-ministerial building where the ministry is situated, the former Members of Parliament were welcomed into the office of the executive secretary of the minister, where they stated what they had come for.

To their disappointment, they were informed that both the minister and the PS were away in Pigg’s Peak attending the retreat for Cabinet.
However, this did not deter them as they stated that they were prepared to sleep in the office until they were granted an audience with the minister or PS.
The former MPs included Mjuluko Dlamini, Johane Shongwe, Sandile Nxumalo, Mkhosi Dlamini and Mthokozisi Kunene.

When this reporter walked into the office, the former legislators were found chatting about how government had not been honest regarding the payment of their gratuity.
One of them spoke in jest and asked this reporter to go and buy them emahewu, saying it was clear that they would find themselves hungry as they were not prepared to leave the ministry until they were assured of the real date when their money would be available.

When asked to explain why they had decided to pay the minister and PS a visit, they stated that the situation had become unbearable.
One of them even showed this reporter a message on his cellphone which was a reminder that he was in arrears in one of his financial commitments.

Serious

“That is how serious the situation is. You are aware yourself that it is January and since almost all of us are parents, it is obvious that we have school fees to pay, so the delay is not good at all,” said the former MP.

Another one said it was difficult for them to be patient due to the fact that they were aware that all civil servants and the new legislators received their salaries, which meant they were going to be able to sort school fees and other needs.

“Why then is our issue not given the attention it deserves? This money belongs to us and it is frustrating that despite the delay, no one even bothers to communicate and tell us to be patient and give assurance that something was being done,” said another former MP.

The MPs left the office just before 1pm but some of them returned, and this time things turned almost positive as the officers at the ministry engaged them while receiving feedback through phone calls from their superiors.
In the end, the former legislators were given an assurance that the process of payment would begin anytime next week.
It should be noted that there have been reports to the effect that some of the money from the SACU revenue has allegedly been committed to pay the former

legislators.
The Southern Africa Custom Union money was expected to arrive in the first week of January 2019.
It is not the first time that the former legislators came together to demand their money.

During the third week of December last year, the aggrieved members held a meeting at the Cabinet Offices with Secretary to Cabinet Mbuso Dlamini, the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Finance Bheki Bhembe and Sizakele Dlamini.

Letter

This was after they had allegedly written a letter to the Clerk to Parliament, Ndvuna Dlamini, which was also copied to the Prime Minister, Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini.
They were then informed that the PM and his Cabinet had addressed the issue and a resolution taken that the gratuity would be paid in January.
About E20 million is expected to be paid out to the former legislators who left office in early October 2018.
Each former Member of Parliament was expecting about E500 000 before deductions, which comes down to about E350 000 after tax.
However, about E45 000 is expected to be deducted after government was of the view that the ex-politicians were over paid their October 2018 salaries, yet they had vacated office around October 10, 2018.
This means that the former MPs would pocket about E327 000.