UPROAR OVER SNAT BURIAL CASKET DONATION FOR MLANDVO

MBABANE – There is uproar by SNAT Burial Scheme members over the donation of a casket worth E15 000 for the burial of a suspect who was shot dead by security forces.

The suspect, Mlandvo Khumalo, was shot by members of the security forces, who were in a helicopter early this month, after he had allegedly shot and injured an umbutfo, during the march by Ingatja to cut the scared shrub, lusekwane. Interviewed, some of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) Burial Scheme members, said they were of the view that the executive should have informed them about the donation prior to announcing it. They said they learnt of the casket purchase and donation through social media platforms, something that really pained them.

Consulted

“Why have they not consulted us as we are members (of the burial scheme) and have a say on our monies?” they questioned. Worth noting is that members of the SNAT Burial Scheme bought shares at a minimum of E1 000 some years ago. The aggrieved members were those who bought shares as part of their investments as they believed the scheme used their funds to purchase the casket. Other members said they wanted their investments back as it was clear that they would end up not getting their dividends at the rate things were happening.

They said they were of the view that the burial scheme did not have money as the fund within the scheme was recently established. According to the members, they were expecting to receive dividends, but now this made them lose hope. The members said SNAT Burial actions showed that there was a lot of money, which was why they were now donating to people not linked to the scheme. “We were shocked to learn from social media platforms that our scheme bought a casket for someone involved in political affairs.”

Furthermore, they mentioned that they would now be attached to the political issues relating to the deceased, yet they still had pending negotiations with government. The members accused SNAT of not consulting with them in most instances where their finances were concerned. Responding, the SNAT Burial Scheme Secretary, Bonginkosi Dlamini, pleaded with the members to have trust in the executive that it was steering the boat in the right direction. He was asked on what they intended to do as members were now threatening to withdraw their shares.

Explaining why the scheme did not engage the members on the matter, he said it was not everything that they had to consult with the members about before taking decisions. He said as an executive, they could take decisions on behalf of members. According to Dlamini, what prompted the decision to donate the casket was that they considered the burial scheme to be a company. “This was one of our marketing strategies to promote the company (SNAT Burial),” he said.

He said in this specific case, they did not take any funds from the scheme but it was a contribution from their business partners. As an executive, he highlighted that they took advantage of a business opportunity with their business partners whom they engaged whenever overwhelming support was given. “In return, whenever we want to take part in a social activity, they come through and in this case they gifted us the casket,” he claimed.
Dlamini said he was wondering why the members had so many questions on this specific social responsibility they had forwarded, adding that they could not consult regarding everything. He also stated that they shared information with their members during annual general meetings (AGMs). When questioned why they chose to fund the burial of someone who was suspected of attempted murder, Dlamini said they had not regarded this but were drawn by the family’s plight.

Desperation

“We just considered the death and the desperation of the family. It is not the first time we bury a member of the same family,” he claimed.
He said they had seen the family’s struggles before and all he could say was that they (family) were lucky to receive such a gesture. Dlamini said the mother of the now deceased Khumalo was registered as a beneficiary under the SNAT Burial Scheme and during her burial, the family was struggling. “They had to pay for the services in instalments until they completed the debt,” he explained.

The secretary stated that they were ploughing back into the community as well by extending a helping hand and not only receiving money from their members. Meanwhile, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Training Bheki Gama said they would be meeting SNAT on other issues not related to the casket matter.

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