BACK TO WORK TODAY - PSUS

MANZINI – It will be business as usual today, says Public Sector Unions (PSUs) of Swaziland.

After a two-day break from work, civil servants unions said they would resume work today. This was communicated by the President of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), Mbongwa Dlamini. On Monday, the government machinery came to a grinding halt following an audio clip purporting to be an announcement by an anonymous commander. The audio advised security services to withdraw their services in defending the Tinkhundla System of Government, while also making a litany of threats, which cannot be repeated given their nature. Yesterday, the SNAT president said they had assessed the situation and they were convinced that it would be safe to resume duties today. Dlamini was asked if their resumption of work was motivated by the circulating audio clip of the said commander, who had initially issued the threats stopping them from executing their duties.

Assessed

He said: “Yes, the threats had come from the ‘commander’ and we’ve also assessed the situation.” National Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU) President Oscar Nkambule, said in the past, they had heeded to government’s instruction, that civil servants would be safe in the face of threats; but they (public service workers) were not. He said there was an instance in Pigg’s Peak wherein a tear gas canister was aimed and fired at civil servants who were within their duty station. Nkambule claimed that when the issue was brought up, it was said it would be investigated and the investigation was yet to yield any outcome. “Some of our members had to rush through staircases in their stilettos, which resulted in them spraining their ankles. This happened when we were told that we’d be safe; so I’m sorry if government feels otherwise when we don’t trust what they say,” Nkambule said.

When informed that the employer had emphasized that security was provided to ensure they executed their duties without any disturbance and given that they had not pitched for work, disciplinary action and also the no-work, no-pay rule would be effected, Nkambule said: “We don’t believe that adequate security was availed, given our past experience. We shall also challenge the no-work, no-pay rule.” Also, the Swaziland National Association of Government Accounting Personnel (SNAGAP) President, Dumile Dlamini, said they would report for work today.

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