Times Of Swaziland: 4 JUNIOR COPS BANNED FROM WORK, SALARIES STOPPED

4 JUNIOR COPS BANNED FROM WORK, SALARIES STOPPED
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Sithembile Hlatshwayo on 08/11/2022 09:05:00


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.