Eswatini court rejects ESRIC officer’s disciplinary challenge
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Times of Eswatini
Eswatini’s Industrial Court has dismissed a challenge by Siphiwe Mdluli, compliance officer at state insurer ESRIC, and union SUFIAW over the role of the human resources manager in her disciplinary proceedings. Mdluli disputes, among other things, the manager’s involvement in bringing the charges when she could also take part at the penalty stage; the judgment was delivered by Judge Manene Thwala, the Times of Eswatini reports.
Eswatini’s Industrial Court has dismissed a challenge by Siphiwe Mdluli, compliance officer at the state-owned insurer ESRIC, against the role of the human resources manager in her disciplinary proceedings, the Times of Eswatini reports. Mdluli and the Financial Institutions and Allied Workers Union (SUFIAW) were concerned that the manager could be involved both in bringing the charges and in deciding on any penalty.
Mdluli faces two charges: gross neglect of duty and gross insubordination. The disciplinary hearing, which had already begun, was suspended after the case was brought before the court. Judge Manene Thwala, sitting with two nominated members, delivered the judgment on 3 November 2026.
The court examined the disciplinary code signed by ESRIC and the union in 2017. It provides, among other things, that an official must communicate a decision within five working days of receiving an employee’s written representations.
