MBABANE – The lowest paid uniformed officer will get E107.98, if Cabinet approves the percentages proposed by the salary review consultant.
The consultant, Emergence Human Capital and Umalusi Partners, proposed adjustments ranging between one per cent and 18 per cent. For entry level personnel (Warder II), which are normally recruits, two per cent was recommended while for Warder I and assistant superintendent, it was recommended that they should be awarded one per cent. The same applies to Warder Instructor. For a sergeant, sergeant instructor and assistant chief officer, it was recommended that they should be awarded 18 per cent, while a chief officer was recommended to be awarded four per cent. On the other hand, it was recommended that a superintendent and a senior superintendent should get two per cent. The proposed increments, when translated to money being received by the personnel, mean that any officer occupying the position of Warder II will receive E 126.81 in addition to their E6 340.33. This tallies a monthly salary of E 6 467.14.
Also, an officer on the job grade Warder I at His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS) or a constable at the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) will have their salary revised with E107.98 if Cabinet approves the consultant’s projected review. The E107.98 is equivalent to one per cent for an officer on Notch I. It is worth noting that aside from the projected one per cent, officers in this job grade were awarded three per cent in September 2025 as part of Phase II.
The three per cent for Phase II amounted to E314.52 and when added to the projected salary review, it shall mean that their salary will have improved by E422.50.
If the projected increment is approved, this rank will be remunerated E10 906.42 per month for Notch I. This projected increment has brought concern and disgruntlement among some officers within this job grade and or rank as many claimed that the Phase II was an illusion.
They supposed that government partitioned their salaries to make them believe that they had benefitted twice within two months; yet it was minimal.
However, this is not the only rank that has minimal benefits, given that some unionised civil servants had their salaries reduced instead of being increased. These civil servants are those in the job grades A1-5 and B1-5. Furthermore, the positive for the uniformed forces is that unlike civil servants, a feedback report by the HMCS Staff Association, informed officers that the consultant mentioned that the proposed adjustments will be implemented from notch to notch, conditionally.
On the other hand, another rank which stands to be awarded one per cent is that of superintendents. The anticipated one per cent for an officer with this rank and on Notch I translate to E334.32.
Aside from the proposed percentage for the increment, this job grade and notch received eight per cent during the awarding of Phase II.
*…
Minister Neal: SACU here to stay as wage bill balloons
MBABANE - The hike in the salaries coincides with South Africa giving SACU assurance to Eswatini.
This is because despite recent negative statements surrounding the future of SACU, South Africa’s Charge d’Affaires, Wouter Zaayman, assured its survival in the medium, long-term.
Recently, Minister for Finance, Neal Rijkenberg clarified that Eswatini is not a stumbling block to South Africa’s pursuit of international trade through the Southern African Customs Union (SACU).
The minister gave the clarity after being sought for comment subsequent to South Africa’s Minister of Agriculture and Democratic Alliance (DA) Leader, John Steenhuisen’s assertion. The DA is said to be pushing for South Africa’s foreign policy to be ‘genuinely non-aligned’ and not ideological.
Royal Eswatini Sugar Chief Executive Officer, Banele Nyamane, posed a question to the Minister for Commerce, Industry and Trade, Manqoba Khumalo, on what the future holds for the sugar exportation to South Africa, given the recent statements that suggest there is a move to push out some products, especially sugar, out of this market, yet it is a free trade in the SACU community.
The minister highlighted that they were aware of these statements, particularly in the media, where there seems to be perplexity to move away from the SACU arrangements when it comes to the trade of sugar.
He relayed that at formal levels where himself and the minister for Finance talk about these matters, the status is that they are married to SACU principles.
“We are aware that there is a lot of sugar coming from other ports into the South African market but we are raising these concerns and we will take it up with them,” he said.
Zaayman then assured the guests that as much as there were negatives surrounding the SACU market, they were seeing positives that suggest that SACU will stay in the medium and long-term.
Meanwhile, in his address, Zaayman revealed that South Africa remains Eswatini’s principal trading partner, accounting for a remarkable 84 per cent of Eswatini’s total trade.
He said that in 2024 alone, Eswatini exported R27.4 billion worth of goods and services to South Africa, an impressive 73 per cent of its total exports.
*Full article available in our publication
Projected salaries at Notch I along with what the officers were offered as Phase II.
