Don't tamper with govt computers - Percy

Government Press Secretary Percy Simelane warned that job losses could occur if they insisted on embarking on the proposed blackouts of the system network.

Employees in the department last week elected to go on an indefinite go-slow strike action, which included causing blackouts. The blackouts last for two hours per day. This is meant to pressurise government into attending to their labour grievances.

Simelane said the employees’ decision was tantamount to ‘throttling’ government in order to get their way and was unacceptable.

"The information, communication and technology sector is an essential service in the country, therefore, to sabotage service, which is supposed to be rendered to the public, is not good.

"In fact, it is a crime to shut down a government service," said Simelane on state radio last Friday.

As a result of the blackout, members of the public have been having difficulty accessing services that are mainly provided through information technology networks.

The Revenue Departments (paying points) have already been heavily affected. Also the system by which civil servants acquire loans has been affected, including the issuing of birth, marriage and death certificates.

Furthermore, long queues have already been witnessed at government offices like the Immigration and Swaziland Revenue Authority (SRA), particularly at border posts.

The international police (Interpol) network that links the police with counterparts in other countries stands to be affected.

Civil servants at the Immigration Department last Thursday had to endure some harsh words from members of the public as the system would not function.

Consequently there were long queues of frustrated people.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: