By Mduduzi Hlophe

 MBABANE: Thulani Hlatshwayo, the Secretary General of the National Public Services and Allied Workers Union ( NAPSAWU) said as a union they have reported Schoolboy Simelane,the Deputy Station Commander at the Mbabane police station for the unfair treatment of Emergency Preparedness Response (EPR) workers who had come to report an assault case.

In a letter dated 10 February 2020, addressed to the National Commissioner of Police and copied to the Human Rights Commissioner, the union alleged that on the 9th February, EPR workers engaged in a strike action over working conditions. Some of the EPR staff who were against the strike action allegedly assaulted those who were picketing and bumped them with ambulances,the police ignored the matter when it was reported to them.

“We act on behalf of our members in that on the 9th February 2021 at Malagwane EPR offices,Xolani Ginindza and Bongani Ginindza who were bumped by a car driven by one Obed Mhlanga , a brother to Project Manager at EPR Masitsela Mhlanga. Our members proceeded to the Mbabane Police Station to report same. The police recorded statements and requested to see the place of accident. On arrival at the scene, one Schoolboy Simelane instructed them not to continue with the case saying they were mad”, read the letter in part.

When reached for comments, Sabelo Masuku, the Commissioner at the Human Rights Commission acknowledged knowledge of the matter.

“We received that complaint,we then wrote to the National Commissioner to make him aware that we are having an interest as a commission to make sure that the workers get a fair chance to have their complaint investigated. We also had a meeting with the desk officer who is in charge of the investigations and the matter was in court today”, said the Commissioner.

But Thulani Hlatshwayo, the NAPSAWU Secretary General revealed that the matter did not proceed as they discovered that the defendants had opened a counter case.

“The matter didn’t take off in court today since we found that the Deputy Station Commander Schoolboy Simelane had opened a counter case against the EPR workers. The case was postponed since it didn’t have proper charges, but the police and the union are in consultations in order to sort  this matter out ”, he said.