BHUNYA: Sihle Mavuso, the Spokesperson of Montigny Investments says workers went on a rampage on Friday morning, tried to force entry with an alleged intention of burning the company’s machinery.
The politically connected company is owned by Finance Minister Neal Rijikernberg and linked to King Mswati through Tibiyo TakaNgwane.
Responding to our questions after being asked to clarify why police were called amid the protests,Mavuso said the employees arrived in the morning on Friday with an intention to burn the company property.
“As you know that tensions are high here, employees are protesting. What happened is that after the protests erupted on Thursday, we temporarily closed the company's premises pending negotiations and told the employees to stay at home.But a group of about one hundred and fifty(150) employees arrived in the morning today(Friday) and tried to force entry. Police dispersed them and they ran to the forests. As we speak we are seeing a smoke within the forests, they are now burning the forests,”said the Montigny Investments Spokesperson.
Nontsentselo Nkambule, the Manzini region Vice-Chairperson of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) Youth League confirmed that police fired teargas canisters at the workers.
“We are here at Bhunya, Montigny Investments in solidarity with the employees, police are shooting protesting workers with teargas canisters,”she said.
A questionnaire was sent to Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, the Police Spokesperson, however, she had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
Tension escalated at Montigny on Thursday after the company’s employees engaged in a protest over unfair labour practices.
State police shoot protesting Montigny Investments workers for burning company property.