AKUSEBENTEKI.
This was said by officials from the ministry of education and training when describing their work environment, which they described as unconducive, stemming from escalating tensions between Minister of Education and Training Owen Nxumalo and Principal Secretary (PS) Naniki Mnisi.
The officials, confiding with this publication, claimed that the strained relationship between the two senior officials had created uncertainty and low morale among staff members. They alleged that the ‘war’ had them walking on eggshells and on their toes, but not in a positive way.
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“Kubi bi! lapha. Everyone tries to keep guard because no one knows what may happen next,” one staff member claimed, on condition of anonymity.
They added that with the constant clash at the helm, they hardly focused on service delivery.
According to some of the officials, there was always a focus on who was assigned tasks by whom between the two senior officials. This, they alleged, was then mistook by the other party as a sign of choosing a side, and as such, this left officials in a position where they could be misconstrued.
“I just wish the minister and PS could address whatever issues between them so that we can all work towards one goal,” said the officers.
The officers’ complaints come after weeks of public exchanges that laid bare divisions in the ministry’s leadership. Recently, PS Mnisi disclosed that she had endured “a lot of humiliation” following what she described as a public snub by the minister. In turn, the minister had reportedly expressed his discontent to Secretary to Cabinet Victor Nxumalo, accusing the PS of allegedly undermining his authority.
Officials claimed the impasse had trickled down, leaving employees caught in the crossfire.
Yesterday, the PS declined to comment and the minister had on Monday expressed that he did not want to say anything on the matter. Nonetheless, the PS had assured that she had always urged the ministry’s officials to focus on their work and ensuring that the end beneficiaries, which are Emaswati children, got the best service.
She said she trusted them as professionals to be able to focus on attaining the ministry’s common goal. Further, the PS said she was optimistic that the situation would normalise in her ministry and everything would be okay.
Meanwhile, former principal secretary of the ministry of education and training Bheki Gama weighed in on the matter and said the PS and minister need to be a team in order for the ministry to succeed.
He said in the event that there were disagreements between the PS and the minister, they should resolve them behind closed doors and keep a united front when in public.
“The two officials need to be a team and pull towards the same direction. If disagreements arise, they need to amicably resolve them away from the public eye,” said Gama.
Otherwise, Gama said since he was put on garden leave in June, he had been keeping a low profile.
“I’m lying low somewhere. I’m patiently waiting for October 28 when I will officially retire and bow out of public service,” he said, adding that he was recuperating well at home.
Gama was initially due to retire this month, but was put on garden leave when Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini announced a reshuffle of principal secretaries, where two retired principal secretaries in the prime minister’s office and private Cabinet and ministry of public service were replaced. Also, Gama was replaced by PS Mnisi who had been under secretary in the ministry.
Before this, Gama was on a six-month special leave due to ill-health, which commenced in July, 2024 and ended in January. While Gama was away, Mnisi, who at the time held the position of Under Secretary (US) Professional, held the fort as acting principal secretary.
He had assumed his position in the ministry back in October, 2021, taking over reins from the now retired Bertram Stewart who had been redeployed to be principal secretary in the prime minister’s office and private Cabinet.
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