Firefighters receiving threats, scared
Ndzabandzaba’s alleged accomplice reasonsr. is said to have evaded arrest and his identity will not be revealed for ethical
Information gathered was that the
SITEKI – The incident in which arsonists chased away a firefighter at Eteni has sent shivers down the spine of some Fire and Emergency personnel at Siteki.
The firefighters related to this publication how they now felt unsafe when responding to fire incidents that are related to the political unrest.
In the said incident that occurred in the wee hours of the November 15 shutdown, Mr Cheap Supermarket at Eteni was razed to the ground by unknown people.
The firefighters said they were now afraid to work night shifts.
“It is a delicate situation, because we are also receiving threats of bombing during the night shift,” said a firefighter.
Another revealed how his seniors were also concerned about the threats to bomb fire stations.
Gutted
“We have been seeing police stations and houses belonging to State security officers being gutted by fire. We started to raise eyebrows after the threats became targeted at firefighters. Our sin is responding promptly to extinguish the fire before causing extensive damage to property,” said the firefighter.
Eswatini National Fire and Emergency Services (ENFES) Public Relations Officer (PRO) Mandla Dlamini said firefighters should engage the police service if they suspected any threatening elements in their line of duty.
The spokesperson said firefighters were always ready to execute their duties at all times in their quest to serve the nation.
Dlamini said despite the fact that they
Information gathered was that his father said he was not home yet and as they made their way out, the duo came across him at the entrance.
The duo is said to have questioned him on his motive for visiting the Ndzabandzaba homestead. When he disputed having visited the homestead, lacked adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), firefighters should always engage the police service if they suspected any criminal elements in their line of duty.
He said despite the threats, they would continue to attend to all reported emergencies.
Meanwhile, firefighters have always complained about their working conditions.
In June this year, about 20 firefighters at the Siteki station downed tools in protest over unresolved welfare issues.
The employees resorted to picketing in front of the visiting Acting ENFES Chief Fire Officer Luke Lushaba to voice their grievances.
Mzwandile Dlamini, Shop Steward and representative of the workers under a quarrel ensued.
At the time, the deceased was said to be carrying a grass slasher and a golf club. It was said that the two attacked and further stabbed him on the back with a sharp object.
He was later certified dead upon arrival at the hospital. Ndzabandzaba appeared before the Shiselweni Magistrates Court in Nhlangano where he was charged with murder.
The prosecutor requested that the accused’s swabs and blood be taken for medical examination which the accused did not oppose.
He was remanded into custody until November 24, 2022 pending committal to the High Court of Eswatini. the National Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU) said the peaceful picketing was meant to send a message that they were not happy with the management’s failure to address their grievances.
Dlamini alleged that they were not paid for overtime after exceeding the mandatory eight hours per shift.
Meanwhile, in April last year, the workers at the station also alleged that government owed each of them over E15 000 deducted since October last year.
The initial amount the employees claimed had been deducted by government from each employee for the past five months was E15 500. They claimed that per shift, E500 was deducted which has totalled to E3 100 per month.