The Treasury department was unable to process the normal October salaries for uniformed forces due to systematic limitations.
This is beacause the national payroll system is only able to process salaries for permanent employees simultaneously.
This is the reason uniformed forces have also been affected by delayed salaries for public servants this month.
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This was shared by acting Government Spokesperson Thabile Mdluli in a press statement yesterday. Mdluli stated that government regrets this unforeseen development and acknowledges the inconvenience that it had caused.
She said members of the uniformed forces were assured that His Majesty’s Government valued their contribution to national safety and security and was committed to ensuring that their remuneration was reasonably reviewed like all other public servants.
Adding, Mdluli said this regrettable development had been necessitated by several factors, amongst which was the implementation of the Phase II salary adjustment for uniformed forces in the month of September.
“The implementation of Phase II meant that comprehensive and exhaustive consultations on the outcomes of the salary review process could not be completed on time to enable implementation for uniformed forces in the month of October 2025,” she said.
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Mdluli added that the consultants had, however, assured government that the salary review component of the uniformed forces was being finalised, working in consultation with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that a satisfactory outcome is reached.
“This process is envisaged to be completed on time to enable the implementation of the salary review for all uniformed forces by their normal pay dates in November 2025,” she said.
Uniformed forces face month-long pay delay
THE implementation of the salary review for security forces will be delayed by approximately a month to allow the consultant finalise their report and for partners to reach an agreement with government.
This was revealed by Principal Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office Bheki Bhembe yesterday after associations representing the security forces engaged with the consultant. Members were later informed of the delay in finalising the salary review report.
Civil servants are expected to receive their salary review adjustments, commonly referred to as ‘Dvuladvula,’ on Monday.
The uniformed forces include members of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF), His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS) and the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS).
Bhembe explained that the ministry of public service had briefed Prime Minister Russell Dlamini on the status of the implementation and discovered that government needed a few more weeks to complete the calculations and carry out consultations.
He said although the report could be completed, it would be incomplete without proper consultations.
He added that the 15% salary base adjustments in September were the main cause of the delay. In September, government agreed a salary review for public servants that included a 15% backpay for the period April to September. The full salary adjustments are being paid starting in October, with the remaining 85% of the backpay scheduled for July 2026.
“The prime minister was assured that the salary review for the uniformed forces would be implemented from April, just like for all public servants.
“They are currently being consulted on their report and once they understand government’s position on the figures, they will sign an agreement, after which the review will be implemented,” he said.
RELATED: REVIEW IMPLEMENTATION: ‘Dvuladvula’ delayed
Bhembe stated that the uniformed forces would not receive the salary review this month, confirming that the process had been shifted by a month to allow the consultant to finalise the figures relevant to the sector.
implementation
He added that government was hoping to complete everything by the end of November, noting that the implementation of Phase II had interfered with the calculations.
He said it was necessary to complete Phase II first so that the adjustments could be made from a stable base.
Bhembe assured that the salary review for civil servants would proceed as planned since their consultations were concluded and all parties had reached an agreement.
“For the uniformed forces, the delay is due to the fact that the numbers are still changing. The report may be ready but the consultation process is the element that is still outstanding,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Public Service Principal Secretary Mthunzi Shabangu confirmed that the matter was discussed at the prime minister’s level, saying a final comment would come from the PM’s office as the issue had been escalated there.
Correctional Services Staff Association (COSESA) Chairpers-on Manqoba Lukhele, in a statement to members following a meeting with the consultant at the correctional headquarters yesterday, said it had emerged that the consultant had not yet finalised the report for the security forces.
He said in the absence of the report, government was expected to provide clarification on the way forward, particularly regarding October 27, the official payday for civil servants.
“Membership will get a full update in due course,” Lukhele said.
Speaking to this publication, Lukhele said the association had not yet received any official position from government regarding the implementation of the salary review for security forces. He said they were not sure whether the adjustments would reflect this month or not.
“The person in the best position to clarify would be government, since they are responsible for implementing the salary review adjustments.
“The consultant only briefed us on the progress of the report,” he said.
Royal Eswatini Police Staff Association (REPOSA) Chairpers-on Isaac Lukhele echoed similar sentiments, confirming that the consultant had informed them that the report for the security forces was still incomplete.
However, he said they were told to expect their report between the first and second week of November and that since civil servants were due to receive their reviewed salaries this month, they would not get it.
He said they were informed of the decision after they asked about their fate in the salary review implementation.
“We were told that we are not going to get anything this month. The consultant was honest with us about it, we will receive the same salaries as last month, with no increase,” he said.
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