RIFT BETWEEN PM’S OFFICE, CSC OVER PS TSABEDZE

MBABANE – There is confusion at the Ministry of Public Service regarding the state of employment of Sipho Tsabedze.

Tsabedze is the Principal Secretary (PS) of the ministry who is currently not working following a ruling by the Civil Service Commission ( CSC) that his last day at work was February 3, 2024. However, the PS contested this decision in the Industrial Court where it is pending. Parallel to the court case, there has been a new development as staff at the Ministry of Public Service has sought the CSC’s guidance and protection following conflicting directives regarding the salary and benefits of Tsabedze.  

The saga began with the CSC’s letter dated January 30, 2025, and a court judgment delivered on February 3, 2025 (Case Number 12/2025), which led the ministry to reverse its decision concerning Tsabedze’s date of birth.  
The ministry was said to have duly implemented the CSC’s directive and the court’s ruling.

However, on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, a new directive, issued by the Secretary to Cabinet, Vincent Nxumalo, following a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office, ordered the reinstatement of Tsabedze’s salary and all his benefits.  

Attendees at this meeting were said to have included the Minister for Public Service, Mabulala Maseko, the Acting PS, Richard  Phungwayo, the Director of Personnel Administration, Bhekinkhosi Tsabedze, Phindile Dube, Housing Officer and Gugu Ginindza, PHRO Staffing and Complement Control.  

Meeting

During the meeting, it was allegedly emphasised that staff were under the minister for Public Services, not the CSC’s supervision.  It was reported that the acting PS was also informed that they had erred in implementing the CSC’s directive without the substantive PS’ and the minister’s instruction. Correspondence seen by this publication detailed that a request for a formal instrument regarding the PM’s directive was forwarded while also a plea that the CSC be informed was extended.  

It was further articulated that assurance that a meeting with the CSC was planned and that staff should not be concerned. However, later on Wednesday, a directive instrument from the Secretary to Cabinet was reportedly received by the ministry and routed to the Staffing and Complement Control Department.

The Secretary to Cabinet then reportedly telephoned the PHRO, instructing them to implement the PM’s decision, which the department, despite the CSC’s directive and the court judgment, felt compelled to do. In a letter to the CSC, Phungwayo, on behalf of the staff, described the prevailing confusion and fear within the ministry. He highlighted the staff’s concern about being called to the highest office and reprimanded for following the CSC’s instructions. He further expressed worry that this disregard for the CSC’s directives could weaken the entire government administration.

The correspondence purported to be the premier’s directive, also attached to Phungwayo’s letter, stated that the issue of Tsabedze’s retirement was still being dealt with by the courts and requested that his salary and benefits not be stopped until further notice.  According to official correspondence from the Ministry of Public Service, appended by the acting PS, the staff, particularly those directly affected, expressed confusion and fear after being reprimanded for initially following the CSC’s instructions and a court judgment, only to be overruled by a subsequent directive purported to be that of the PM.

Retirement

When interviewed on February 3, 2025, the day of his retirement, as determined by the CSC, Tsabedze’s response was ‘ngiphumulile kulamalanga’. This was after reporters from this publication paid the PS a visit at his then workstation and he was not there. When asked about his whereabouts, he only said he was resting for now.

“I did not report for duty because, ngiphumulile kulamanga (I’m resting these days),” he said politely.  The CSC determined that Tsabedze would retire on February 3, 2025. He took the matter to court and lost. His matter was heard by Judge Abande Dlamini in the Industrial Court on the day he was said to retire. In the evening of the same day, he filed four grounds of appeal in the Industrial Court of Appeal.

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