Car allowances reduced by E19m, form committee
MBABANE – Arguably, tindvuna tetinkhundla would not have united to form a national steering committee had government not reduced their car allowances.
After their payslips had shown that their car allowances had been decreased by E5 500, they called each other to address the issue.
The car allowance, it has been established, was reduced from E13 000 to E7 500 per month.
It effectively meant government would save E324 500 per month as there are 59
tindvuna tetinkhundla, translating to E3 8 94 000 per year and totalling E19 470 000 over a period of five years.
Records seen by this newspaper reveal that tindvuna tetinkhundla did not form a union as suggested by some politicians, but a steering committee or a body that will collectively address issues affecting them.
It is understood that a team of 11
tindvuna tetinkhundla were sent to the Ministry of Tinkhundla Administration and Development to enquire about the reasons that forced government into reducing their car allowances.
They visited the ministry on February 5, 2024, and met Nonhlanhla Dlamini, the Principal Secretary (PS) and her team. It is understood that the ministry advised them to write a formal letter of complaint.
It has also been established that the Ministry of Tinkhundla Administration and Development assured them that their letter would be forwarded to the Ministry of Finance, the custodian of circulars on conditions of service.
When they met on February 22, 2024, at Manzini Club to deliberate on this issue, the Times SUNDAY has learnt that
tindvuna had not received a response from government.
This then resulted in frustrations and complaints, with the meeting attended by 34 tindvuna resolving, in one accord, to put pressure on government to reconsider its decision.
They mandated their 11-member team
(sigejane) to put pressure on the two ministries to reverse the decision.
During the meeting at Manzini Club, they resolved to devise a strategy to put BABANE – A businesswoman has lived to tell the tale of having been attacked by seven men who, not only robbed her of her property, but went on to burn her with boiling water.
According to a report issued by Acting Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Assistant Superintendent Nosipho Mnguni, police are investigating an armed robbery case, where on Thursday at around 8pm, a 48-year-old woman of Nyakatfo was robbed at gunpoint her property, including a motor vehicle, a GWM LDV and cash amounting to E190 by seven unknown men.
According to reliable sources, the men arrived at the woman’s homestead and found her busy cleaning her chickens, something she does on a daily basis as part of her business.
The men are said to have demanded
pressure on government to reconsider its decision.
They asked the interim committee to return to the PS or rather the minister in case the controlling officer was not helpful.
They had other options, seeking the intervention of the Parliament Finance Committee or the prime minister (PM).
The issue was later rectified as it was found that government had erroneously reduced the allowance. They felt it was through collective effort that their complaint was positively addressed.
They frowned upon assertions that they had formed a union.
On April 25, 2024, they held a Work that she give them money and when she told them she did not have, they used boiling water she had prepared to wash the chickens and scalded her on the stomach.
After burning her, they are said to have tied her with a rope and proceeded to cook some of the chickens she had already washed, and ate.
After eating, they are said to have continued to demand money and she could only give them E190.
It was then that they demanded her car keys and drove off with her car.
It was gathered later yesterday that the car. Which is valued at E90 000, was eventually recovered at an area called Manjengeni. According to the sources, residents spotted the car parked at a nearby bush. When they saw the car still parked at the same area they are said to have called the police and reported. When called for comment, Mnguni said police were
and Fun Day at Mayiwane Inkhundla, northern Hhohho, where they learnt about investment opportunities and the duties of an indvuna yenkhundla.
They resolved to reclaim their position as it became obvious that, through lack of knowledge, they allowed MPs to assume powers they did not have.
There were over 40 tindvuna tetinkhundla who attended the Fun Day at Mayiwane.
Nonhlanhla, the PS in the Ministry of Tinkhundla Administration and Development, said the terms and conditions for tindvuna ‘are dealt by the Royal Commission’.
Sibusiso Mandlazi, the Chairman of the Steering Committee, confirmed that government finally fixed the problem
and their car allowances were revised back to the old rate of 2018-2023. He said there was no explanation on why the car allowances, in the first instance, were slashed.
Mandlazi said they were not a registered association, and had no intention to become one, but would remain a steering committee (sigejane) for tindvuna tetinkhundla.
Sikhumbuzo Dlamini, the Minister of Tinkhundla Administration and Development, referred all enquries about the issue to the PS.
Comment could not be sought from the Royal Commission because the problem was fixed while the terms and conditions of service begin at ministerial level before they reach it (Royal Commission).