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By Sicelo Maziya | 2018-12-19
A very senior manager at the national aviation authority, the Eswatini Civil Aviation Authority (SWACAA) is currently suspended on allegations of sexual harassment.
The manager has been absent from work for several weeks now as a result of the suspension which he was served to allow disciplinary processes and investigations to unfold. This fact is already abuzz on social media regarding this sexual and several of his other related misdemeanours whereby formal charges will be presented against him early next year.
In terms of the disciplinary code, sexual harassment even for a first offender, is regarded as a serious offence with dire consequences.
The suspension was preceded by a failed petition by employees in which they enumerated a litany of complaints on how he was allegedly mistreating them. The petition could not see the light of day as no one wanted to ‘bell the cat’ in fear of unimaginable reprisals.
Our investigations can reveal that soon after one of the victims spoke out, a host of other women complaining of the same treatment came forward in support of the first, saying they are ready to testify and provide the required evidence, something they were previously afraid to do for lack of courage given the embarrassing nature of cases of sexual harassment.
Victims
A verbal encounter at the Matsapha headquarters with the said manager and one of his victims, led to damning revelations whereby other female employees were also encouraged to come forward. Staffers, however, have also revealed that some of the allegations were leaked to management in the form of complaints but no action was taken until the latest reveal.
While other staffers watched the verbal exchanges in utter dismay, it turned out that the victim followed the manager to the office with scores of employees following behind as she kept accusing him of being vindictive towards her because she resisted his sexual advances. She even made it known that on several occasions, she was against his habit of fondling her in sensitive parts with a view to suggest sexual escapades.
Other women interviewed at Matsapha have made very strong allegations to the effect that apart from his sexual appetite, the said culprit was generally arrogant and abusive. This is shared through WhastApp group by the affected employees. A large number of these are from one department.
Complaints
SWACAA management when confronted with the facts, said they would rather not delve on issues of employer - employee nature because they are confidential and therefore, could not be discussed with the media.
They also advised employees to follow laid down channels of reporting complaints.
Employees insisted that previously management had not acted on the laid down channels, but kept quiet until matters reached the present levels.
Asked to confirm the suspension of the manager issue SWACAA was also very diplomatic but confirmed that there were cases pending disciplinary hearing that also involved managers.
“Those are internal matters that are dealt with within the confines of employer and employee issues that need to be treated that way because such issues are not to destroy the persons involved but to mediate between cases reported in a fair and independent manner,” added SWACAA management.
The officer at management excused himself from sharing any information insisting that communication was between employer and employee directly.
“The complaint is forwarded to the person concerned who is later called upon to be notified of the complaint before suspension is processed. The complainant is also given time off and in case such a person needs counselling, the employer is responsible for all fees associated.”
Our investigations have confirmed that the manager has indeed been suspended to be charged with sexual misconduct on employees and in the workplace. Subsection (V) of SWACAA disciplinary code reads: “offences to the person or dignity of a fellow employee or any other person the employee comes into contact with in the course of his/her work; promoting or engaging racist incitement or being racially abusive or engaging in discriminatory behaviour based on sex, creed, political beliefs or sexual orientation including racist or sexist jokes.”
The first offence attracts a final written warning and second offence leads to dismissal.
The manager’s case erupted at the height of the worldwide 16 days of activism against gender based violence which ended on December 10.
This campaign has been hailed by the employees as an opportune moment for them to act to be able to expose and get three senior managers suspended for their wayward behaviour towards female employees.
Harassing
The employees further revealed that another supervisor was suspended but returned to work without management offering due explanation, yet he had been accused of sexually harassing another female employee.
However, this supervisor had to be changed from a shift that comprise of women, to suggest that he indeed had a case to answer. Management, however, maintained that in this case, it was dealt with and both parties were satisfied with the verdict of the DC.
Female employees revealed that there were three managers slapped with sexual harassment charges, something they said was an embarrassment to the whole establishment. The employees further disclosed that they praised the women who were able to rise above fears of victimisation to report the sexual harassment.
The employees said what thereafter happened was good news to the marginalised and abused junior female employees at SWACAA, as management finally had the courage to suspended the alleged sexual perverts within the institution.
The suspensions have been described as long overdue by junior female employees. Furthermore, they said they were happy with the latest action taken by management to suspend and also direct the latest case to DC. The other suspended employee is said to be a South Africa national who was attached to the KMIII International Airport whose name cannot be published for now.
The victims further alleged that the managers were untouchable and were using their positions to get away with anything “it’s been long overdue as most of the sexual harassment cases have been reported in the past but never yielded any results”.
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