NAPSAWU HAS SUSPENDED THREE NATIONAL OFFICE BEARERS

Written by Staff Reporter

The National Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU) National General Council (NGC) ,on Thursday 15^th February 2024, suspended three of its National Office Bearers (NOBs), two of whom are believed to be principal officers.

Principal Officers number up to three in trade unions and are the President, General Secretary and the Treasurer. The suspension of two of them may therefore demonstrate the seriousness of the matter just barely six months since the current NOBS took office in August 2023.

The suspension of the trio is reported to have come after it had been discovered that they were one way or another involved in alleged misappropriation of undisclosed NAPSAWU funds believed to  amounting to more than one hundred thousand and seventy thousands (more than E170 000) emalangeni. The funds according to reliable sources are believed to have been approved funds for union activities but were later discovered to have been diverted into personal accounts of the leaders concerned.

The Times of Eswatini on Tuesday 20th February 2024 reported that NAPSAWU President Bawinile Ndlovu had discovered that on the 4th January 2024 the union had E236 000 in their accounts however a few days later the union's account balance had declined to E110 000 and much later it further declined to E66 000. The newspaper report further highlighted that some service providers were paid amounts but the report presented to the union were of a different figure paid 

Reliable sources within NAPSAWU have revealed to this publication that on Thursday 15^th February 2024 NGC (Extra-Ordinary) of NAPSAWU was convened wherein the NOBs ,including the president Bawinile Ndlovu, were individually made to account by making presentations to NAPSAWU shopstewards as to what they know regarding the matter of the funds as well as the extent of their involvement on the matter.

After deliberating on the reports as well as the individual NOB presentations the NGC is reported to have resolved to immediately suspend the three NOBs. The suspension of the three is believed to be in effect pending the finalisation of investigations on the matter. Upon the completion of the investigations there is a possibility that any of the trio and all three may end up being charged through the NAPSAWU code of conduct embedded their Constitution.

When contacted by this publication regarding the matter the President of NAPSAWU Bawinile Ndlovu requested not to comment on the matter at this stage citing that the processes on matter were still at precarious stages within the union. She further assured this publication that once all necessary processes have been undertaken NAPSAWU will be in a position to give their comment or even issue public statements on the matter.

Note: More details, including the names of the NOBs involved, amounts involved will be added as more official information becomes available in the coming days.