SNAT SUES GOVERNMENT E1M OVER PUDEMO MEET DISRUPTION

MANZINI - The Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) is suing government for E1 million following an incident where armed police officers entered the SNAT Centre and disrupted a PUDEMO event.

The incident occurred on Saturday, March 1, 2025, and was reported in the Times Sunday on March 2, 2025, which stated that police disrupted an event hosted by the proscribed political party, the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO).

SNAT, through its lawyer Machawe Sithole of ML Sithole Attorneys, has issued a letter of demand to the Attorney General’s Office and the national commissioner of the Royal Eswatini Police Service.

Demand

The teachers’ union’s letter of demand, dated March 14, 2024, is titled: ‘Claim by SNAT arising from trespassing of police officers on March 1, 2025’.

It states that on the specified date, at SNAT Centre, opposite William Pitcher College, where the union’s offices are located, police officers including Manzini Regional Crime Branch Officer (RCBO) Thabo Hlophe, Manzini Police Station Commander Bhekani Khumalo, Matsapha Police Station Xaba, and other unidentified officers caught on CCTV footage, entered the premises armed with various firearms.

According to SNAT, the police entry was uninvited and unsanctioned by any legal instrument, despite requests for such instruments upon their arrival. SNAT Centre is located on premises with a title deed, privately owned by the association, which holds exclusive rights to the land.

In light of this, SNAT argues that the police had no right to trespass and cause disruption without lawful justification. They contend that the armed officers could have shot and killed those present.

As a result of the alleged unlawful entry, SNAT claims to have suffered significant damages, including extreme shock.

Additionally, the union states it suffered a loss of business as payments made for the use of the premises on the day had to be refunded.

SNAT further claims that its National Executive Committee (NEC) and church members had planned to use the premises on the day, and their plans were disrupted by the police’s unlawful conduct.

The union asserts that the police entry was not warranted or sanctioned by any legal instrument, such as a court order or warrant.

“The union is therefore entitled to sue the Eswatini Government for such acts committed by the police,” the letter states.

As a result of the incident, SNAT claims a loss of business and profit amounting to E850 000, and claims E150 000 for shock and trauma, totalling E1 million.

Conduct

According to the SNAT letter of demand, the police officers acted unlawfully and negligently while on duty for the Eswatini Government, making government vicariously liable for their conduct.

The letter also serves as a statutory demand under the Limitation of Legal Proceedings against Government Act of 1972. SNAT has indicated it is open to an amicable settlement.

The union has also reserved its rights to raise any other relevant issues at a later stage.

Deputy Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Assistant Superintendent Nosipho Mnguni confirmed that the police had received the letter of demand.

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