MBABANE:Sanele Malambe, the Under Secretary in the Ministry of Defense and State Security says, he will consult with Principal Secretary(PS) Prince Sicalo to verify the exact amount received by soldiers as a back-pay in the Phase two(II) salary increment.
Responding to this Swaziland News on Friday morning, the Under Secretary said in the meantime, the relevant Ministry better positioned to clarify would be the Public Service.
“I will have to consult with uMntfwaneNkhosi-Principal Secretary to verify the exact amount but in the meantime, the Ministry of Public Service is better positioned to give clarity,” said the Under Secretary.
Mthunzi Shabangu, the PS in the Ministry of Public Service was not immediately available for a comment regarding this matter.
It has been disclosed that, junior soldiers received about five thousand Rands(R5,000.00) after tax deductions
But some senior police officers reportedly received about twenty-five thousand Rands(R25,000.00) after tax deductions while juniors received about R5000.00.
Finance Minister Neal Rijikernberg recently confirmed to the media that security officers will receive their back-pay this month.
But the Phase two demand seems to be far from being resolved as junior police officers have called an urgent meeting this week to discuss a way forward.
Junior soldiers were reportedly shocked as well to receive only R5000.00 as a back-pay but, some senior soldiers allegedly received a back pay less than that of senior police officers.
Speaking to this publication, Sergeant Dumsile Khumalo, the Secretary General of the Police Union said, the Phase two demand is far from over.
“It’s far from over, we haven’t received our money. You can’t tell me that a police officer who was employed before 2014 can receive R5000.00 being an amount equivalent to that of a police officer employed after 2020. We are yet to meet this week as junior police officers to discuss a way forward”, she said.
Senior Army Officers and foreign soldiers at the Army Headquarters.