Give junior cops Phase II salary rise – MP
MBABANE – As a junior police officer, Mayiwane Member of Parliament (MP) Prince ‘Khunga Nkosi’ Dlamini has first-hand experience of how much police officers earn.
Mayiwane Member of Parliament (MP) Prince ‘Khunga Nkosi’ Dlamini, who is also a junior police officer, shed light on the salary disparities and working conditions of police officers during his presentation in Parliament.
Dlamini, who took a leave of absence from his police duties to fulfil his parliamentary responsibilities, raised these concerns during the Budget Speech debate in parliament last Thursday.
Acknowledging the commendable work done by police officers, Dlamini emphasised their pivotal role in upholding law and order.
Appreciation
“We are here today because of the police,” he stated, expressing his appreciation for their efforts. While serving as a police officer, Dlamini was based at the Tshaneni Police Station where he was transferred to from Pigg’s Peak.
However, before delving into the issue of salary increments, Dlamini issued an apology, cautioning that his remarks might not be received favourably. He recounted an incident from 2016 when police officers were promised salary increases, known as Phase II, specifically targeted at junior officers, while Phase I was for senior officials. He said regrettably, while senior officers received their increments, junior officers were left waiting for their promised raise.
The MP said frustration of not receiving the much-needed salary increment eventually led to police officers staging a march, an unprecedented event in the law enforcement community. Dlamini highlighted the absence of any mention of resolving this issue in the National Budget, urging that it should be addressed promptly.
Dlamini also drew attention to the housing situation for police officers, as mentioned in the National Budget. He emphasised that housing initiatives should not remain mere words on paper but should be tangibly executed.
Distressing
He cited a distressing incident where a newspaper article reported that a woman had been raped due to the crowded living conditions forced upon officers. This incident underscored the urgent need for proper housing provisions for police personnel.
Furthermore, Dlamini advocated for improved transportation for police officers. He pointed out that officers were often using vehicles that could only accommodate two people, which was inadequate, especially considering recent incidents of unrest and rising crime rates. Dlamini argued that it was unjust for police officers to respond to robberies and other emergencies using small vehicles. He called for the acquisition of better-equipped vehicles to aid the police service in carrying out their duties effectively.
The Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent, Phindile Vilakati, was previously contacted on issues similar to this. She had indicated that police officers knew where to report when they had issues relating to their profession.