By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:Over twenty(20) employees who worked overtime during the establishment of the newly opened Pigg’s Peak SPAR have been fired.

The fired employees told this Swaziland News on Sunday that,before Commerce,Industry and Trade Minister Mancoba Khumalo officially opened the retail company,they were working tirelessly,to pack and establish shelves among others,so that customers could find everything in order during the first day of the opening.

“It was hectic such that,sometimes we would work the whole night as the date for the official opening by the Minister draws closer.But despite our hard work, just when we were beginning to feel stable that we have jobs after the official opening,we were subsequently fired.The Manager is now hiring relatives and girlfriends”,said one of the employees.

Reached for comments on Sunday,Pigg’s Peak SPAR Manager Senzo Nhlabatsi did not deny the dismissal of the employees but reffered comments to Director Baruwa Biswash.

“I am also an employee,please contact the Director”, said the Pigg’s Peak SPAR Manager.

But the Director subsequently failed to answer when this Swaziland News tried to reach him.

One of the Managers who work in another company owned by the Pigg’s Peak SPAR Director told this publication on Sunday evening that, he was also aware of the matter and expressed disappointment to see emaSwati treated this way.

“The employees were trained and even provided with SPAR uniforms but just after the official opening by the Commerce Minister,they were dismissed.But the problem here is that the Director is an ‘Indian’ as you know how ‘Indians’ operate.He doesn’t provide signed employment documents for employees, everything is done through the word of mouth.Another thing, the SPAR Manager Senzo Nhlabatsi who was not in the company’s payroll,he was working for him in another company and was then transferred to work at Pigg’s Peak SPAR,he is also involved in the dismissals.The dismissed employees worked very hard to establish the retail company but just when they were feeling secured that they have jobs to put food on the table,they were fired”, said the insider.