This comes after Chief Justice(CJ) Bheki Maphalala delivered a judgement, directing Government to award junior police and Correctional Services officers their salary increment under Phase two(2).

“The People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) congratulates the Royal Eswatini Police Service Staff Association (REPOSA) on their historic victory in the Supreme Court of Eswatini. The court has ordered the government to pay junior police and Correctional Services officers their salary increments under Phase Two of the restructuring process.This decision, delivered by Chief Justice Bheki Maphalala, is a victory for justice, workers’ rights, and the dignity of Eswatini’s security forces”, reads a statement sent to this Swaziland News by the Office of the PUDEMO Secretary General.

Dlamini said, the suspension of junior officers for legitimately protesting at the Prime Minister’s Office was an abuse of power and a violation of their constitutional rights to expression, association, and assembly. 

“This judgment affirms that no government should be above the law and that workers’ rights must be respected.Police and Correctional Services officers endure harsh working conditions, including inadequate housing where officers and their families are forced to share two-bedroom houses”, he said.

PUDEMO then called for an urgent increase of salaries for all civil servants in the country.

“Teachers, nurses, doctors, and other public servants are grossly underpaid and work under appalling conditions, far below the standards of their counterparts in the SADC region.Civil servants are the backbone of the country’s development. Without well-compensated and motivated public workers, the health, education, and general welfare of our nation are at risk”, reads the statement in part.

The junior police officers were represented by lawyer Thabiso Mavuso from Motsa-Mavuso Attorneys in their victory at the Supreme Court.