Maravi

(TIMES OF SWAZILAND) Police called as angry Spheshula employees demonstrate

Police called as angry Spheshula employees demonstrate
By SIZWE MAZIYA on November 24,2011

NHLANGANO - Police were called after about 30 angry employees of Spheshula Contractors demonstrated against a new manager they accused of allegedly ill-treating their immediate superior.

The disgruntled workers demonstrated at the main gate of SAWCO PTY (LTD) in Nhlangano, and the prompt response of armed police officers from the Nhlangano Police Station saved what could have turned into a nasty situation.

The workers were armed with bush-knives and slashers and are said to have blocked the manager’s car yesterday morning, demanding answers for why they had been reportedly stopped from working.

Chaos almost erupted after they charged towards the main gate after noticing the manager coming in.

Nhlangano Shongwe, a senior supervisor at Spheshula Contractors PTY (LTD), said they were not happy with the treatment the manager gives to their boss, Spheshula Mthethwa (a prominent Nhlangano traditional healer and businessman).

Shongwe accused the manager of plotting the downfall of their boss by allegedly talking badly about him to the company’s superiors.

According to Shongwe, the traditional healer collapsed last Wednesday and regained consciousness on Thursday at the Nhlangano Health Centre as a result of being frustrated, allegedly by the manager.

He said they were told to stop working last Wednesday by the manager and nothing positive had been communicated to them since then.

"We want him to stop ill-treating our boss. We’ve been contracted to this company for the past 11 years and we have been working without a problem. The manager recently arrived and he started threatening our boss.

The reason we gathered here is because we want him to explain to us why he hates our boss so much. If he chooses to fire him, he must then give the 78 employees jobs. The problem we encountered today is that the police like to get mixed up in issues they don’t know about instead of sorting out criminals.

"We want the manager to give us our November salaries," demanded Shongwe.

The police, armed with guns and tear gas canisters, confronted the angry workers and ordered them to vacate the premises. The police order, however, did not go down well with the workers, who told the police to mind their own business.

A truck driver transporting the workers was then ordered to drive away as their continued demonstration was posing a threat to the peace.

Comment from the manager could not be obtained as the security personnel at the company main gate turned back this reporter on the basis the manager was furious and thought he would refuse to grant an interview.

Deputy Police Public Relations Officer Assistant Superintendent Stephen Dlamini confirmed police attended to the matter.

Labels: LABOUR

posted by MrK @ 5:32 PM