By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE: Pay-slips in our possession suggest that life is literally a struggle for a majority of civil servants, some earn as little as One Thousand Rands(R1000) after deductions.

An independent investigation by this Swaziland News uncovered that a majority of the financially struggling were those who earned less than twelve thousand(R12,000.00), Government deducts Pay as You Earn(PAYE), Study Loan and Graded Tax among others, this adds up to around Two Thousand Rands(R2,000.00).

The above mentioned deductions are made before the civil servants pay installments for their pensions and  personal loans from financial institutions that include Letshego while Christians are expected to pay 10% of their gross earnings as tithes for their Pastors.

At the end and according to payslips in our possession, the civil servants are left with around one thousand(R1000) for transport to work, buy food for their families and pay school fees among others.

Reached for comments, Oscar Nkambule, the President of the National Public Service and Allied Workers Union(NAPSAWU) confirmed that civil servants were neglected by the Government and were financially struggling.

“I am glad that your publication has finally attended to this issue, civil servants were long neglected by the Government and they are financially struggling. Some even approached us asking about the processes followed when a civil servant wants to resign, they are now literally working for nothing. The situation was worsened by Government's failure to award civil servants a salary increment for the past ten(10) years and as a result most of us survive through shylocks. This then affects service delivery because an unhappy employee cannot be productive, some civil servants died of stress”, said the NAPSAWU President.

It has been disclosed that after deduction, those who earn the One Thousand Rands(R1000) are then expected to pay 15% Value Added Tax(VAT) when buying groceries and this means the R1000 is further reduced by R150.00 as soon as the civil servants enter supermarkets.

The financial struggles also affect events of the armed forces security including senior police officers, mostly Superintendents, Assistant Superintendents and Senior Superintendents who earn around Three Thousand Rands(R3000.00) after deductions.

Reached for comments, resigned senior police officer Cebile ‘Cece’ Shongwe confirmed that most police officers were financially struggling.

“It’s true that most police officers are financially broke, if you can send someone to take pictures at the Green Pastures Offices, every Monday, you will even find senior officers who don't qualify for loans waiting there to negotiate”, she said.

Questions were sent to Thabile Mdluli, the Deputy Government Spokesperson, however, she had not responded at the time of compiling this report.

Eswatini is a tiny Kingdom situated situated in Southern Africa and ruled by billionaire King Mswati as an absolute Monarch, the King lives an extravagant lifestyle using public funds.