5 WARDERS FACE DC OVER REPOSA MEETING

MBABANE - Five executive members of the Correctional Staff Association are facing disciplinary hearings, following their attendance at a meeting called by REPOSA.

The meeting, held at the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) Centre in Manzini on November 23, 2024, reportedly focused on issues related to Phase II of Circular No.2 of 2014, which deals with salary and benefits for junior police officers.

The five Correctional officers, identified as Warder Instructor Celumusa Vilakati, Warder Simiso Ginindza, Warder Mkhosi Ngcamphalala, Warder Zwakele Mbhamali, and Warder Sibusiso Tjapile, are facing multiple charges under the Correctional Services Act No.13 of 2017.

According to the charge sheet, the officers are accused of acting in a manner prejudicial to good order and discipline by allegedly attending the Royal Eswatini Police Staff Association (REPOSA) meeting without authorisation from the Commissioner General (COMGEN), Phindile Dlamini or their supervisors.

They are also accused of failing to comply with a lawful order from Commissioner Raymond Nkambule and Deputy Commissioner General Ephraem Tfwala to provide written reports/statements about their attendance at the REPOSA meeting.

They stand accused of allegedly contravening Section 44 (hh) as read with Section 53(1) of the Correctional Services Act No.1 of  2017, which stipulates: “A Correctional officer commits a disciplinary offence if that Correctional Services officer fails to carry out any lawful order, whether a standing order, written order, or order by signal or word of mouth, without good and sufficient excuse, the burden of proof of which lie upon that Correctional Services officer.”

Specifically, Warder Simiso Ginindza faces additional charges of allegedly publishing unauthorised public pronouncements, including audio clips on social media, calling junior officers to attend the REPOSA meeting, and making unauthorised comments in the Eswatini Observer newspaper regarding Directive No.2 of 2024.

Consecutive

Furthermore, he is accused of being absent from duty for two consecutive days, November 28 and 29, 2024, without leave, permission or a medical certificate.

These are allegations contained in a document titled ‘His Majesty’s Correctional Services charge sheet’.

One of the officers is accused of contravening Section 53(1) of the Act, which provides that: “A correctional officer commits a disciplinary offence if that officer publishes any matter or makes any public pronouncement relating to Correctional centres, or offenders, or the administration of the service without being authorised to do so.”  

Another charge against one of the officers is that of absenteeism. One of the officers who is based in Big Bend is said to have on November 28 and 29, 2024 absented himself from work. It is alleged that by so doing he purportedly contravened Section 53 of the Act.

The aforementioned section states that, a Correctional Services officer commits a disciplinary offence if that Correctional Services officer is absent from work for a period of two working days without leave, permission or doctor’s sick note duly authorising absence for medical reasons. During the disciplinary hearing, which took place on Tuesday, the officers, represented by attorney Thabiso Mavuso, raised preliminary points challenging the authority of the commissioner general.

They argued that the meeting they attended was convened by the Correctional  Services Association, not REPOSA, and that they did not require permission to hold such meetings.

Furthermore, they alleged significant interference in the operations of the Correctional Services Association.

The hearings were subsequently postponed, with the matter set to resume at a later date.

Witnesses listed for the prosecution include senior officers from the Correctional Services, including Deputy Commissioner General Ephraem Tfwala, and officers in-charge of Matsapha, Big Bend and Royal Guard Correctional facilities.

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