Swaziland
Newsletter No. 856 – 6 December 2024
News
from and about Swaziland, compiled by Global Aktion, Denmark (www.globalaktion.dk) in collaboration with
Swazi Media Commentary (www.swazimedia.blogspot.com), and sent to all with
an interest in Swaziland - free of charge.
SWAGAA launches Phosa
Nawe Campaign to combat GBV
By Thokozani Mazibuko, Times
of eSwatini, 28 November 2024
THE
Swaziland Action Group Against Abuse (SWAGAA) has launched the “Phosa Nawe: Be
Part of the Change. End GBV” campaign.
The
initiative aims to rally support and generate resources necessary to provide
crucial services for survivors of violence.
Delivering
her speech during the campaign launch, SWAGAA Director Nonhlanhla Dlamini
emphasized the urgency of the situation, revealing that the country has seen 35
tragically lost lives to GBV since the beginning of 2024.
From
January to October, SWAGAA recorded 1,820 cases of face to-face GBV incidents
and an additional 2,044 cases reported through its toll-free line. Most victims
hail from low-income communities already grappling with the impacts of poverty,
a situation further exacerbated by the lingering effects of the Covid-19
pandemic.
“Through
the Phosa Nawe campaign, we are calling on everyone to take action. Whether
through monetary donations, in-kind contributions like livestock, or
professional services, every bit of support makes a difference,” Dlamini urged.
“Together, we can help prevent further loss of lives and strengthen our
programs aimed at providing timely medical treatment, legal assistance, and
psychosocial support to survivors.”
The
campaign resonates strongly with the United Nations’ global theme for the 16
Days of Activism: “Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls.” Dlamini
highlighted SWAGAA’s commitment to driving meaningful change by closing funding
gaps for essential GBV services and strengthening partnerships with government
entities, international development organizations, the private sector, and
civil society.
SWAGAA
aims to raise E1 million during this campaign, an ambitious yet critical target
for advancing their initiatives. “This campaign needs every LiSwati,
organization, and company’s financial support,”
Dlamini
stated. “SWAGAA alone cannot defeat GBV; we must unite our efforts.”
The
organization has provided banking details for those willing to assist
financially, emphasizing that every donation, no matter the size, contributes
to the cause. Individuals, companies, and banking institutions are encouraged
to join forces with SWAGAA in the fight against GBV, with a special launch
event scheduled for December 4, 2024 at the Tums George Hotel, where all
contributors will be recognized.
It
should be noted that as Eswatini continues to grapple with the devastating
effects of GBV, SWAGAA stands firm in its mission to create a safer environment
for everyone, especially survivors who deserve support and justice. In a
heartfelt plea, Dlamini urged the community to unite, learn, and contribute to
ending the epidemic of violence that has struck so many vulnerable lives.
‘Female teachers facing
sexual abuse in schools’
eSwatini Sunday, Press Reader edition, 1 December 2024
The
topic of sexual sexual abuse with within the educational system has e emerged
prominent prominently, highlight highlighted by the President of the Swaziland National
Association of Teachers (SNAT), Mbong Mbongwa Dlamin Dlamini, during a
Gender-based Awareness Campaign in Manzini this week.
In
his remarks, Dlamini brought attention to a troubling trend impacting female
educators in the country.
“Female
teachers are being sexually abused in schools,” he stated, revealing a
distressing reality that has been largely hidden. He further pointed out that
many female teachers feel compelled to compromise their dignity to obtain
employment, saying, “They have to sleep with someone to receive a contract.”
Dlamini’s
statements resonated with many participants at the campaign, underscoring a
widespread culture of exploitation within the education sector. The educators
marched from Trelawney Park to the SNAT Centre Building on Friday.
As
Dlamini elaborated on the severity of the situation, he called for a united
effort to put an end to this abuse, urging stakeholders to act swiftly. “When
seeking positions or employment, they are forced to use their bodies, and this
must come to an end,” he insisted, stressing the urgent need for systemic
change.
The
campaign aimed to raise awareness about gender-based violence, providing a
vital platform for educators, activists, and community leaders to come together
against the unreported abuse. Dlamini’s revelations have ignited outrage,
raising concerns about the safety and integrity of female educators who play a
crucial role in shaping the nation’s future. Participants at the event
advocated for stronger policies and protections for educators, as well as a
shift in societal attitudes that perpetuate the cycle of abuse and
exploitation. Educators, parents, and students alike expressed their support
for a zero-tolerance policy regarding sexual harassment and abuse in schools.
As the campaign concluded, the urgency for immediate action became evident.
SNAT is calling on government officials, educational institutions, and
community leaders to collaborate in creating safe working environments for
female teachers.
It
is essential to implement initiatives such as improved reporting mechanisms,
training for school administrators, and public awareness campaigns to eradicate
this issue from the education system.
Eswatini’s
commitment to gender equality and the protection of all individuals hangs in
the balance. The courageous voices of advocates like Mbongwa Dlamini are
critical in illuminating these pressing issues, reminding us that silence is
not an option. It is time for the nation to unite and ensure that female
educators can work free from fear, earning their positions based on merit
rather than coercion.
Teachers
launch the Go Public! Fund Education campaign despite intimidation
Education
International, 3 December 2024
In
Eswatini, Education International (EI) and its member organisation, the
Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), are amplifying their call
for systemic reforms in public education.
Despite
a climate of harassment and intimidation, teachers united to launch the Go
Public! Fund Education campaign,
focusing on strategies to secure greater investment in teachers and public
education, even in the face of state interference.The event, held in Manzini on
November 24-25, unfolded against the backdrop of legal and political pressure
on SNAT’s President, Mbongwa Dlamini. Despite a recent court ruling in
Dlamini's favor regarding reinstatement to his teaching post, the government
not only appealed the decision but issued a summons for his arrest during the
workshop itself.
Commenting
on the situation, EI President Mugwena Maluleke stated: “The use of
intimidation and harassment to threaten union leaders and educators is utterly
unacceptable. Justice systems must unwaveringly uphold the rule of law and
ensure fairness for all citizens, rather than being misused as instruments of
oppression. This injustice cannot and will not stand.”
Undeterred,
SNAT’s national and district leaders pressed forward, crafting a roadmap for
the Go Public! campaign. Drawing on the
recommendations from the UN High-Level Panel on the Teaching Profession, discussions highlighted
critical areas, including:
Fair
and competitive salarie : Recommendation 8 underscores the need for
governments to treat long-term investment in teachers as a cornerstone of
sustainable education systems through competitive pay.
Support
for rural teachers: Recommendation 11 advocates bonuses and incentives for
educators in rural and remote areas, ensuring experienced teachers are
encouraged to serve these underserved communities.
Improved
working conditions: Recommendation 37 emphasises safe and healthy workplaces,
balanced workloads, affordable housing, and manageable teacher-student ratios.
To
read more of this report, click here
Drama as workers,
patients locked out
By Sibusiso Zwane, Times
of eSwatini, 4 December 2024
MANZINI:
Operations were affected at the Blood Bank and TB Clinic in Manzini, as
healthcare workers and patients were locked out over unpaid security guards’
salaries.
The
incident took place yesterday morning and patients who had come to seek medical
assistance at the TB Clinic were turned back. It remains unclear who
locked the gates, as some claimed that it was the unpaid security guards, who
are employed by Gridlock Security Services, while other suspected that it was
some of the civil servants who were sympathising with the guards.
However,
a notice that was placed at the gate and titled; Gridlock (Security Services)
employees’ petition listed three concerns; double payment, uniform and the last
one reads; “Asikaholi, ngeke sivule, two months wonkhe*sic (We have not been
paid for two months and we will not open (the gates).” According to some
of the workers who were found at the TB Clinic, they found the gates locked
with the usual padlocks and there was the notice which was posted at the gates.
They said they believe it was the security guards who locked the gates in
protest over their unpaid salaries.
A
source close to the matter said after the security company’s management learnt
that the workers from the two facilities had been locked out, it purportedly
sent a team of other guards to use force to open the gates and they managed to
execute that at the Blood Bank. However, he alleged that the workers said
they do not feel safe to gain entry through a gate that was opened through the
use of force. On the other hand, the source said when they tried to
break open the padlock at the TB Clinic; they had a confrontation with some of
the civil servants, who work there. As a result, the source said they failed to
open it.
Meanwhile,
another source alleged that around noon, the security company’s management came
to meet the aggrieved guards and they promised to pay them before Friday.
Thereafter, the source claimed that the security guards purportedly opened the
gates and operations resumed. Gridlock Security Services Managing Director
(MD) David Nyathi said according to their knowledge, they owe the security
guards salaries for the month of November 2024, which, as a company, they were
supposed to pay on the 25th.
To
read more of this report, click here
http://www.times.co.sz/news/148386-drama-as-workers-patients-locked-out.html
Supreme Court orders
Government to pay junior police and Correctional Services officers their salary
increment
By Zweli Martin Dlamini, Swaziland
News, 29 November, 2024
MBABANE:
The Supreme Court of Eswatini has ordered Government to pay junior police and
Correctional Services Officers their salary increment under Phase two (2).
The
judgement was delivered by Chief Justice Bheki Maphalala on Friday morning and,
the court further ordered Government to lift the suspension of junior police
officers who marched to the Prime Minister’s Office to demand their salaries
increment.
The
judgement means Government will now be expected to pay each junior police and
Correctional Services officer who was already employed in 2014 when the Phase
two (2) Circular was issued, a back-pay amounting to over one hundred thousand
Rands (R100,000.00).
But
according to calculations conducted by this Swaziland News based on the
Circular, officers from the rank of Sergeant who were left out, are entitled to
over three hundred thousand Rands (R300,000.00) back-pay from Government.
Apart from the back-pay, the junior
officers are expected to be awarded a salary increment and their salaries are
expected to reach up to fifteen thousand Rands (R15,000.00) per-month while
Sergeants will receive up to eighteen thousand Rands (R18,000.00) monthly
salaries.
The Circular was released by Government
after a re-structuring process that was conducted in stages, Phase one (1)
benefitted senior police officers while junior officers were entitled to a
salary increment under Phase two (2).
But what happened thereafter, senior
police officers awarded themselves the salary increment while the standard of
living for the junior security officers was worsening.
The Supreme Court Judges who presided over
the matter include Chief Justice Bheki Maphalala, Judge Mbutfo Mamba, Judge
Phesheya Dlamini, Judge Sabelo Matsebula, Judge Magriet Van Derwalt and junior
security officers were represented by lawyer Thabiso Mavuso from Motsa-Mavuso
Attorneys.
Over
48 000 reported [crime] cases since January
By
Nokuphila Haji, eSwatini Observer, 29 November 2024
The crime rate has increased by 15 per
cent in the country, bringing the total number of reported cases from January
to yesterday to 48 452.
Prime Minister Russell Dlamini revealed
that in 2023, there were 42 209 cases reported in the same period (January to
November 28).
“There is indeed an increase in crime
rate, which is worrying. Serious crimes also increased by two per cent,” he
said during the end-of-year crime and road accident prevention campaign and
launch of the 2024 festive season safety operations at Matsanjeni sports ground
yesterday.
The festive operations are under the
theme; ‘we are at your service as the police to be a safety and security buffer
for the nation in partnership with stakeholders’.
Dlamini said this was an indication that
effective strategies were required to deal with persistent crimes such as
murder, rape, stock theft and copper theft.
He applauded the Shiselweni region for
reducing homicide and rape cases by 31 and 6.8 per cent, respectively.
However, the premier said the challenge
still remained with stock theft and drug trafficking in this region, which
increased by three and 59.1 per cent when compared to the same period (January
to date) in 2023.
He said crime undermined societal values,
delayed economic growth, and wore down trust within communities. He said
in order to combat this, government remained committed to supporting robust
crime prevention strategies.
“Success requires collective action from
every citizen, community leader, and stakeholders,” he said.
Dlamini said their approach to mitigating
crime included strengthened law enforcement, community engagement, and
addressing crime in its root cause.
He said through this, they aimed at
cultivating a society where crime was not tolerated, but where every individual
would be empowered to uphold safety in their communities.
“The festive season often sees a rise in
crime and road accidents,” he said.
On that note, National Commissioner of Police Manoma Masango said crime
continued to instill fear in communities. He said it affected the quality of
life and threatened success and sustainability of the country’s socio-economic
environment.
He said there was another major issue
prevalent in the Shiselweni region. He said the issue of copper theft had
become a severe economic burden. He said this crime did not just impact the
companies involved, but also other sectors of the economy.
“I appeal to community members and
scrapyard owners that if they notice any suspicious activities, they should
report it to the police immediately,” he said.
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