Times Of Swaziland: 21 JUNIOR COPS CALLED FOR DC

21 JUNIOR COPS CALLED FOR DC
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Sithembile Hlatshwayo on 02/12/2022 09:40:00


MBABANE – A total of 21 junior police officers have been called for a
disciplinary hearing at the Matsapha Police Academy.
The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, starting at 9am. The police officers are
said to have participated in a march to deliver petitions to the Cabinet Offices
on the now much publicised matter of Phase II of the salary restructuring
exercise. Of note, the Chairperson of the Police Staff Association Isaac
‘Kaira’ Lukhele is on the list of junior officers expected to appear before
the disciplinary committee.
Hearing
The letter inviting the junior officers to the hearing was signed off by the
National Commissioner (NATCOM) of Police, William Tsitsibala Dlamini. In the
letter, Dlamini stated that all station commanders affected were requested to
warn and further secure the defaulters’ attendance without fail.
He also requested the Regional Commissioner Police Academy to provide escorts,
interpreter and a suitable venue for the hearing. Also expected to be present
were the witnesses; Inspector Msibi and ACP Motsa and Board members; PM Mdluli
(DNCP), J Lukhele S/Supt, P. Nkambule A/Supt and Inspector AS Dlamini.
When reached for comment, the Police Staff Association Secretary General (SG)
Sergeant Dumisile Khumalo, confirmed to have received the letter to appear
before a disciplinary committee (DC). Khumalo said she was surprised that she
had to appear before the DC, yet her matter was being discussed at the High
Court. She said they challenged the NATCOM as he had no power to call her before
DC. She said this was because she had to first appear before a commission.
Arrest
The SG said the senior police officers were showing that they were a law unto
themselves, which was why government was also failing to arrest them over the
Phase I monies which was implemented in 2014.  “If they were not law unto
themselves, government could have done something already to respond to our
concerns or at least institute an inquiry.” She said they had never seen any
inquiry or arrests being effected for the none-implementation of Phase II, which
was suppose to benefit junior police officers. Khumalo said they were shocked by
government being mum on the matter as they were employed by it (government) and
were expecting the money. Khumalo stated that the senior officers were doing as
they pleased.