MBABANE – As government looks into ways of reducing its bloated wage bill, there is a position that has appeared for years on the payroll and continues to raise more questions than answers.
The position is referred to as indvuna, and it features in about 16 government ministries and departments, as reflected in the Establishment Register Supporting the Estimates of Public Expenditure for the Financial Year 2025/2026.
While some government employees have anonymously shared that the job description of an indvuna focuses on supervision, there is a troubling trend emerging in some departments.
The concern is that the number of indvuna positions exceeds that of the employees they are meant to supervise.
In some cases, there appears to be no clear justification why the position is there.
For example, the position of indvuna appears under the Ministry of Education and Training for two schools, one of them being St Mark’s High School, where there is one.
The Establishment Register also reflects that there are four similar positions at Matsapha High School.
A full analysis shows that there are approximately 128 indvuna positions.
Each earns a salary of E4 508.55 by virtue of the fact that they are under the A2 Grade, meaning government pays about E577 508.24 per month for these posts. Over a full financial year, this amounts to E6 925 794.88.
In siSwati, the word indvuna refers to a leader or supervisor of a group of people within a particular organisation or area. For example, in the various constituencies, there is the indvuna yenkhundla, meaning the constituency headman.
This is an elected head of the Inkhundla authority, who is responsible and accountable to the Bucopho, Inkhundla Executive Council and the regional administrator on administrative and policy matters.
He or she serves as the chairperson of the inkhundla, presides over all official meetings, supervises the work of bucopho in the respective chiefdoms and ensures that decisions of the Inkhundla Executive Committee are implemented.
Culturally, the term is also used to refer to leaders of regiments, such as indvuna yeMbali, indvuna yemcuba and indvuna yemphakatsi.
Sources within various ministries said the title is generally assigned to supervisors overseeing groups of employees such as cleaners and labourers. This is particularly noteworthy given that government recently announced plans to outsource several services, including cleaning and security.
“It is a position that has existed for years. At times, the indvuna just comes in, does not do much and it is difficult to even understand what their role is. Also, there is a possibility that some could be ghost employees and this is bad for the country’s wage bill,” said one government employee.
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27 tindvuna supervise 15 cleaners?
MBABANE – A curious scenario emerges from the Government Establishment Register.
According to the register, the Ministry of Home Affairs has 27 tindvuna under the Immigration Department.
However, the same department lists only 15 cleaners within the system.
This raises the question of how 27 individuals can be supervising 15 cleaners in a single department.
At the Ngwenya Border Gate, the Establishment Register shows eight indvuna positions, while the number of cleaners stands at four. Similarly, the Mhlumeni Border Post has eight indvuna positions but there are only three cleaners.
Meanwhile, by virtue of the fact that they are in the government payroll, the individuals holding the position of indvuna are expected to be members of some of the public sector unions (PSUs).
This publication sought clarity from the National Public Services and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU) if they are aware of members who hold the indvuna position in government.
NAPSAWU President Bawinile Ndlovu said they do have members who hold the position, but not in some of the ministries and departments this reporter relayed to her.
She said as far as she knows, the indvuna position is found in farms that look after cattle.
“We also do have an indvuna who has a supervisory role at the Malkerns Research Centre. However, the other ministries you are talking about, I am not sure. If anything, I think it can happen just because most of government’s operations are not properly aligned, hence we have a duty to assist by being involved when it comes to positions,” she said.
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What’s their job description? Ministry says they supervise cleaners
MBABANE – The Ministry of Public Service has provided clarity on the indvuna positions, as well as government’s decision to outsource cleaning services across ministries.
This publication sought clarification on what the indvuna position entails and its specific job description.
Through Under Secretary (US) Cebile Nhlabatsi, the ministry said government has introduced measures as part of broader public service reforms aimed at improving efficiency, strengthening accountability and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the public sector wage bill.
“The Government of Eswatini remains committed to transforming the public service into a modern, efficient and financially sustainable institution,” the US said, adding that the decisions were taken carefully and strategically to support improved service delivery and long-term fiscal stability.
She explained that the positions were created as supervisory roles to enhance oversight and quality control of cleaning and labour functions within government facilities. According to the US, these posts are responsible for ensuring compliance with hygiene standards, safety procedures and the proper execution of daily tasks.
“Government facilities require consistent oversight to ensure that offices, conference rooms, toilets, high-traffic areas and exterior premises remain clean, functional and safe. The indvuna positions provide a clear supervisory chain that strengthens accountability and improves reporting of faults, hazards and maintenance needs,” she said.
The US emphasised that the indvuna posts were not introduced across all ministries, but were created selectively based on operational need. The roles were established mainly in large, multi-unit ministries, where supervision of cleaners and labourers is essential.
“The principle of efficiency and right-sizing guided the creation of these roles. Not all ministries have the same level of cleaning or maintenance activity, and it would be neither practical nor cost-effective to introduce these posts where they are not required.
*Full article available in our publication
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