MBABANE – Government says Alpheous Nxumalo was never formally placed into the government spokesperson role as initially understood.
It has been revealed that Nxumalo, who was widely believed to be the Government Spokesperson, accepted the holding position of Communication Analyst instead.
The Principal Secretary (PS) in the Prime Minister’s Office, Bheki Bhembe, informed the Industrial Court that the holding position was created after it emerged that the original post had already been filled and could not be practically occupied.
The Ministry of Public Service reportedly facilitated Nxumalo’s alternative placement in the position of communication analyst to ensure he remained on the payroll during the disputed period.
This is stated in an answering affidavit filed by government in contempt of court proceedings instituted by Nxumalo over non-payment of his salary following a court order issued by Judge Abande Dlamini.
Bhembe disputed Nxumalo’s claims of unlawful non-payment and argues that no contempt arises from government’s conduct.
Nxumalo approached the Industrial Court alleging that government failed to comply with an order compelling payment of his contractual salary after he signed a fixed-term contract with the Civil Service Commission on September 15, 2025, effective October 1, 2025. He stated that he was entitled to serve as public relations officer, commonly understood as government spokesperson.
According to the answering affidavit, the original contract between Nxumalo and the Civil Service Commission became ‘unworkable’ after the dispute reached court. The State contends that the parties mutually agreed to terminate the initial arrangement.
Bhembe states that, in the aftermath of negotiations, Nxumalo was offered and accepted a holding position within the Ministry of Public Service. This position is described as that of a communication analyst, placed on salary grade F3. Government further asserts that Nxumalo is no longer serving under the original public relations officer contract, which was effectively terminated by mutual consent.
The State maintains that Nxumalo has since reached compulsory retirement age and therefore does not hold an active contract of employment with government. It argues that the earlier contract signed in September 2025 fell away upon termination and replacement with the new arrangement.
In its defence, government said Nxumalo rejected a monetary settlement offered in lieu of continued litigation. The State says it tendered an amount of E1.2 million, which it considers full and final settlement of all salary-related obligations arising from the disputed period.
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