(MISA/IFEX) – On 30 August 2002, a court ruled that former employees of the Swaziland Television Authority (STVA). fired after walking off the job, be reinstated and compensated for unfair dismissal. Following this ruling, the Industrial Court issued a writ of execution (court order) that Hhohho Deputy Sheriff Maswazi Nsibandze attach equipment valued at one […]
(MISA/IFEX) – On 30 August 2002, a court ruled that former employees of the Swaziland Television Authority (STVA). fired after walking off the job, be reinstated and compensated for unfair dismissal. Following this ruling, the Industrial Court issued a writ of execution (court order) that Hhohho Deputy Sheriff Maswazi Nsibandze attach equipment valued at one million Emalangeni (approx. US$93,896), which is equal to the money owed to the former workers. The STVA management has appealed the ruling but has been unsuccessful at the Appeal Court. However, the money will be placed in a Trust Account while the appeal is still being reviewed.
On 5 September 2002, Nsibandze and Lwazi Hlophe, a former STVA technician and representative of the Swaziland Media and Publishers Workers Allied Union (SMEPAWU), went to the station to attach the equipment. Hlophe claimed to have assisted by pointing out crucial equipment to be attached.
STVA Managing Director Celani Ndzimande and the television station’s legal advisor, Thulani Makhubu, called the police to prevent the deputy sheriff from removing the broadcasting equipment. The police stopped Nsibandze from attaching the equipment. Mandla Mkhwanazi, the employees’ lawyer, feels the police were wrong to prevent the deputy sheriff from carrying out his duties. However, attaching the equipment would have resulted in a complete blackout at the television station.
The police’s representative, Vusi Masuku, claims that the police were only protecting vital government equipment and not undermining the court order.
Background Information
On 23 March 2000, STVA Board of Directors abruptly fired 32 employees who had gone on strike in October 1999. The Board’s decision to sack the employees went against the findings of a one-man commission of inquiry into the workers’ conduct.
On 28 October, several STVA workers took control of the television studios in an apparent illegal strike. The workers were demanding a 7% back-pay that management had promised them in April 1999.
