4 JUNIOR COPS BANNED FROM WORK, SALARIES STOPPED

MBABANE – The four junior police officers who were yesterday summoned to the Police Headquarters have been prohibited from work.

Their salaries have also been stopped with immediate effect. This comes after allegations that the officers were part of those who visited the residence of the Prime Minister (PM), Cleopas Sipho Dlamini, last Thursday to engage him on the implementation of Phase II of the police and Correctional officers’ salary restructuring exercise of 2014.

Developments

The National Commissioner (NATCOM) of Police, William Tsitsibala Dlamini, informed the junior officers about the latest developments through a memorandum issued yesterday. This was after they had appeared before some members of the police executive to show cause why they should not be interdicted from duty in terms of Section 43 of the Police Service Act No. 22/2018, in accordance with the rules of natural justice, and Section 33 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Eswatini. According to the memo, the junior officers made oral submissions, which were forwarded with recommendations for consideration. The memo also reads: “Having considered the senior officers’ recommendations and your personal circumstances, through this communication, you are hereby informed that you are interdicted from duty without pay with effect from November 7, 2022.”

Privileges

Dlamini stated that such an interdict was in terms of Section 43 of the Police Service Act No. 22/2018. The NATCOM also informed the junior officers that the powers, privileges and benefits they enjoyed as members of the service shall, during their ‘ban’ from the workplace, be held in abeyance. However, Dlamini mentioned that the junior officers would continue to be subjected to the same responsibilities, discipline and penalties as if they had not been interdicted. Interviewed yesterday, the junior officers stated that they did not know how they were singled out by the police executive as they were never involved in any demonstration. Further, they mentioned that they had never seen any police officer protesting in the country.The officers noted that they would be seeking legal redress on the matter and were shocked to receive the letters interdicting them from the workplace.

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