Africa-Press – Eswatini. The Ministry of Education and Training has pledged swift action to resolve the case of a Nhlambeni High School teacher who has reportedly been absent from duty for eight years.
The matter surfaced on Thursday, October 2, 2025, during a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) session, following concerns raised by Auditor General Timothy Matsebula about irregularities in the education sector.
Lawmakers expressed shock upon learning that the teacher was last seen at work in 2017. The PAC questioned why the issue had lingered without resolution.
Teaching Service Commission (TSC) Executive Secretary, Nhlanhla Dlamini, explained that disciplinary processes are often lengthy and must follow due procedure—starting with a report from the school head teacher to the Regional Education Office (REO), before escalation to the TSC and Ministry.
Dlamini further revealed that the teacher in question has been battling depression, a factor that complicated the handling of the matter. The PAC recommended that the Ministry conduct an on-site assessment at Nhlambeni High School to better understand the situation.
Principal Secretary in the Ministry, Nanikie Mnisi, assured the PAC that the case would be addressed urgently. She emphasized that the Ministry was committed to both accountability and compassion.
Mnisi cited a past example of a teacher known as “Ncangancanga,” who openly shared her struggles at Sibaya in 2023. Instead of facing dismissal, she was reassigned to lighter duties. Mnisi said such an approach could also be explored for the Nhlambeni case, should assessments confirm mental health challenges.
“We must balance accountability with compassion. Where intervention can help, we will support our teachers rather than abandon them,” Mnisi affirmed.
The PAC highlighted the importance of protecting education delivery, while welcoming the Ministry’s commitment to supporting teachers in distress.
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