By Zweli Martin Dlamini

NHLANGANO:Under-paid textile workers are exposed to sexual harassment by their Managers and other high profile people in this tiny Kingdom of eSwatini which is rated as one of the most unequal countries in the world.

Textile workers in eSwatini are paid less than $1.00(R15.00)per-hour as per low paying Government Gazettes and due to the ever escalating costs of basic necessities of life, the workers, a majority of them being women, are exposed to sexual exploitation allegedly, by men with financial muscles.

Evidence in our possession suggests that Andreas Simelane, the Juris Manufacturer(PTY)LTD Manager has been reported to the Managing Director Urie Bester for alleged sexual harassment after he initiated sex and or nude pictures from one of the employees, WhatsApp messages form part the evidence.

On 13th May 2022, Wander Mkhonza, the vibrant Secretary General of the Amalgamated Trade Union Of Swaziland(ATUSWA) wrote a letter to Urie Bester, the Managing Director of Juris Manufacturers(PTY)LTD reporting the sexual harassment allegations against the company’s Manager Andreas Simelane.

“We wish to formally lodge a complaint of sexual harassment against Mr Andreas Simelane who has been perpetually harassing Miss(name withheld for ethical reasons).We hereby attach screenshots of messages between the culprit and the victim for your comfort that we are not making baseless accusations,” reads the letter in part. 

Reached for comments, ATUSWA’s Wander Mkhonza who led textile workers into one of the longest textile strikes confirmed writing to the Managing Director, reporting the sexual harassment allegations.

“We had to act, and act fast, we couldn't look away when we know for a fact how rife sexual harassment is in the textile industry,” said the ATUSWA Secretary General.

An independent investigation by this Swaziland News uncovered that the young woman who reported the Manager to the trade union firstly shared the information with her father, who quickly called and questioned Manager Andreas Simelane as to why he was sexually harassing his daughter.

Reached for comments, the woman who was allegedly sexually harassed by the Manager said she was no longer feeling safe even within the workplace.

“I am no longer feeling safe even within the workplace that’s why I reported this sexual harassment to my union.But before that, I reported the perpetrator to my father who called and questioned him about this harassment,” said the woman whose name cannot be revealed for ethical reasons.

Reached for comments, Andreas Simelane, the Juris Manager accused of sexual harassment terminated the conversation immediately after this investigative journalist introduced himself and started posing questions.

Speaking to this publication,Colani Hlatjwako,the One Billion Rising Campaign Africa Coordinator said sexual harassment was rife within the textile industry and urged companies to establish policies that sought to deal with this scourge.

“We urge companies to establish policies that seek to deal with sexual harassment within the workplace.In most instances these Managers abuse their powers and sexually harass these employees,” said the One Billion Rising Campaign Africa Coordinator.

One Billion Rising Campaign is a global organization advocating for the rights of women and children, particularly young girls.

A questionnaire was sent to Urie Bester the Managing Director at Juris Manufacturers, however, he had not responded at the time of compiling this report.

Reached for comments, Hlobsile Dlamini, the Swaziland Action Group Against Abuse(SWAGAA) Programs Officer said sexual harassment remained a criminal offence and therefore, must be dealt with by the law enforcement agency. 

“Sexual harassment is now a criminal offence like rape in terms of the Sexual Offenses and Domestic Violence(SODV) Act.It is advisable that the matter be reported to the relevant law enforcement agencies because dealing with it internally might compromise others due to seniorities within the workplace. Otherwise, our research suggests that sexual harassment is rife within the workplace and it’s worse in the textile industry because the workers are lowly paid. We applaud the worker who decided to report this regardless of the fact that she could have socio-economically benefited if she agreed to the advances by the Manager”, said the SWAGAA Programs Officer.