By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:Amos Mahlalela,the Chairman of the Teaching Servicing Commission(TSC) is allegedly demanding and collecting bribes from desperate unemployed aspiring teachers.

An investigation conducted by this Swaziland News uncovered that, even already employed teachers seeking to be promoted to the position of Headteacher are allegedly forced to secure bank loans and pay Mahlalela and other Commissioners up to one hundred thousand Rands(R100,000.00).

It has been disclosed that, part of the money is collected by Mahlalela in cash while some of his direct and indirect bank accounts show suspicious cash deposits.

But part of the evidence substantiating these allegations cannot be quoted as doing so will disclose the identity of our source who might be the only one in possession of such information.

Reached for comments by this Swaziland News, Lot Vilakati, the Secretary General of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers(SNAT) confirmed that, teachers and aspiring teachers are forced to bribe Commissioners of the TSC.

“Even though we don’t have specific names of the Commissioners but, this information has been reaching us as SNAT, aspiring teachers and even already employed teachers seeking promotions are forced to pay bribes”, said the SNAT Secretary General.

TSC Chairman Amos Mahlalela’s cellphone rang unanswered when this publication tried to contact him for a comment.

The Eswatini Teaching Service Commission(TSC) is responsible for overseeing teachers in Eswatini's public schools, including recruitment, appointments, promotions, transfers, and disciplinary control. 

Established by the Teaching Service Act of 1982, it ensures the maintenance of an adequate teaching service, manages teacher records, advises the Minister of Education, and ensures the payment of wages, the TSC also formulates national standards and a code of conduct for teachers.