MBABANE:Martin Dlamini, the Managing editor of the Times of Eswatini and all journalists within the media company, are currently on a three(3) months probation under the new Inyatsi Group Management.
Other journalists who are on probation and will know their employment future at the end of June 2025 include Mduduzi Magagula, Ntombi Mhlongo, Mfankhona Nkambule, Joseph Zulu, Ashmond Nzima, Timothy Simelane and others.
But Mfankhona Nkambule and two(2) other journalists are fast reaching the retirement age of sixty(60) and, it remains to be seen if in the next few years, will survive the demand for timely stories with the ever changing dynamics of the fourth industrial revolution.
“It’s true, we are on three months probation, we were paid all our terminal benefits by the previous Paul Loffler Management and now, we are working under the Inyatsi Group as new employees. We are trying to work hard to prove that, we are capable of generating revenue and stories and then, at the end of June 2025, the Management will engage those who qualify to work under the new editorial policies”, said one of the journalists.
Reached for comments by this Swaziland News, Times Managing editor Martin Dlamini denied that, he was working on probation.
But sources within the top Management of the media company told this publication that, the probation was meant to identify workers who will work under the new Management.
“We haven’t fully implemented even the salary restructuring because, we want to identify those who are capable of working and motivate them with lucrative salaries while those who can’t perform, will definitely go home,” said a source within the top Management of the Times when speaking to editor Zweli Martin Dlamini.
It has been disclosed that, some senior editors of the Financial Times might move to the Times of Eswatini to take-up senior positions but this, the Management said, would be determined by the performance of the current Times journalists.
But the probation has seen journalists particularly of the Times Sunday, producing investigative stories, the Times Sunday is under the administration of editor Thobeka Manyathela.
Sources within the Times Management further told editor Zweli Martin Dlamini that, editor of the Financial Times Lwazi Dlamini might move to the Times of Eswatini to take-up a very senior position, Dlamini is a seasoned editor and once headed the entire Sports Department under the Paul Loffler administration.
Times Managing editor Martin Dlamini.