The Swaziland Hotel and Catering Allied Workers Union (SHCAWU) is shocked by the news of the liquidation of Swazi Spa Holdings, a company under Sun International Limited. SHCAWU Secretary General Ncamsile Bhembe said that Swazi Spa Holdings Managing Director Lance Rossouw did not mention anything about the liquidation of the company in a meeting that they recently had. Bhembe said they are shocked and disappointed at what is happening. Bhembe said the management needs to explain in detail what the liquidation means to the staff and if they can still go to the premises because some of them left their belongings at their place of work. The biggest concern of the employees is that they do not know whether they will be getting their benefits or not. She added that the reason they agreed to a 31% pay cut was that they hoped that they would be eventually returning to work. Bhembe said they need an audience with the board of directors to understand where the current position of the company leaves the employees.
Chairman of the union Bheki Dlamini shared the same sentiments that they are concerned by the lack of communication from the management of the Swazi Spa Holdings. Dlamini claimed that Rassouw insisted that the Hotel and Casino would remain closed even after Government had eased the lockdown restrictions because most of the business’ customers were from outside the country’s borders. They hoped that after the ease of the restrictions, they would go back to receiving their full salaries, which did not happen. In a meeting with Rassouw, the union was informed that salary talks had become impossible because of the sale of shares. To this, Dlamini is of the view that the change in shareholding does not concern them as employees. Rassouw refused to comment on the matter. On another note, Swazi Spa Holdings is allegedly indebted to Sun International Management in the amount of E 2 922 448.59. In a letter from Sun International Management Director and Chief Executive Officer Anthony Leeming, there was an operational management agreement between the parties that management fees were to be paid on a monthly basis before the 15th day of the month. According to the agreement, Sun International Management was further entitled to the reimbursement of reasonable costs and expenses. Swazi Spa Holdings is indebted to Sun International Management in the amount of E 2 922 448.59 on respect of reimbursable expenses.
Sourced From: Times of Eswatini 16 June 2021
Jun 16 2021 1:40PM