Africa-Press – Eswatini. Phila Buthelezi, the Minister of Labour and Social Security is at loggerheads with his employees amid refusal to pay salaries and gross violation of workers rights.
As a result, the workers allegedly grabbed one of the Minister’s truck threatening to sell the parts, Buthelezi subsequently rushed to the police to report his missing truck as a “stolen vehicle”.
It has been disclosed that, the police posted the truck as a missing motor vehicle last week on the law enforcement agency’s social media pages but, sources subsequently reporting that the truck “actually belongs to Labour Minister Phila Buthelezi and was grabbed by his employees amid refusal to pay salaries”.
An investigation was then launched by this publication through the Eswatini Traffic Registrar Systems and it was discovered that, the truck was previously owned by businessman Lucky Ngubane’s Ngubs Investments.
Details of the truck found in the Traffic Registrar System further suggest that, its Chasis number is ABJ96342460336104 with engine number 460972U1031786, a White/Red Mercedes Benz.
Senior Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, the Eswatini Police Spokesperson declined to comment about the matter, the Manzini police allegedly declared the truck as a missing motor vehicle “fully aware that” it was grabbed by the workers in a dramatic labour dispute.
Reached for comments by this publication, businessman Lucky Ngubane laughed when this journalist informed him that, a truck previously registered under his company’s name has been reported missing by the police.
“Awume mani Zweli nalonyaka solo awungiphumuti?”, he said while laughing out loud and avoiding to comment about the truck.
Buthelezi whose Ministry is in charge of the Department of Labour and the Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration Commission (CMAC) is alleged to have been abusing his powers when violating the workers rights, knowing that, the State Departments responsible for safeguarding workers rights wont take action against him.
A questionnaire was sent to the Labour Minister, however, he had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
Reached for comments, Wandile Dludlu, the Deputy President of the People’s United Democratic (PUDEMO) said workers must be remunerated and in time.
Our position remains, workers must be respected, remunerated accordingly and in time, these are breadwinners please”, said the PUDEMO Deputy President.
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