MBABANE – Alpheous Nxumalo may not be a government spokesperson after all.
It has transpired that during negotiations between Nxumalo and government, after he took his employer to court demanding the payment of his salary late last year, the parties reportedly agreed that he would be moved to a new position, which government referred to as a holding position.
When he approached the court late last year, Nxumalo of Manzini stated that he was employed by the Eswatini Government under a three-year fixed term contract, which was signed on September 15, 2025 and he was scheduled to commence on October 1, 2025.
He alleged that after duly signing his written contract with the Civil Service Commission (CSC), he was eager to resume work on October 1, 2025 and availed himself to do so. However, he claimed he subsequently learnt that he had been placed under some form of suspension, preventing him from taking up his post.
Last month, the parties informed the court that they began negotiations with a view to settle the matter that was in court. They even informed the court that they had reached some form of agreement. Judge Abande Dlamini ordered the parties (government and Nxumalo’s attorneys) to bring a signed agreement to be made an order of court. However, when the matter returned to court, no such agreement was presented to the court. Government representative, Principal Crown Counsel Ndabenhle Dlamini submitted that Nxumalo had never been to work and he should report to the director of Management Services Division, under the Ministry of Public Service, as soon as possible to be given a workstation.
Yesterday ,Nxumalo’s attorney Khumbulani Msibi of Magagula Attorneys told the court that during the negotiations, his client was offered a different position. However, he said no agreement was signed to date and he has not been paid any salary. During a rigorous exchange in court, Judge Dlamini questioned the State regarding the non-payment of Nxumalo’s salary and the failure to file an answering affidavit for CSC.
Principal Crown Counsel Ndabenhle maintained that while the contract itself was not in dispute, government was under no obligation to pay for services that were never rendered.
“In an employer-employee relationship, wages are earned by rendering services,” Ndabenhle submitted.
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