… Finance Minister Neal Rijkenberg says E850 million has been earmarked from the upcoming SACU allocation to settle the outstanding 85% salary review for civil servants.
… Despite cash-flow pressures, Government says it remains on track to honour its salary review commitment as E2.9 billion SACU revenue arrives next month.
BY MBONGENI NDLELA
MBABANE– Thousands of public servants can breathe a sigh of relief after Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg confirmed that Government remains on track to pay the long-awaited outstanding 85 percent salary review in July, with E850 million already earmarked from the forthcoming Southern African Customs Union (SACU) revenue allocation.
Responding to questions from Eswatini Positive News (EPN), the Finance Minister acknowledged that Government is currently experiencing cash-flow pressures but explained that there is a clear plan in place to honour the commitment made to civil servants.
Rijkenberg revealed that Eswatini is expecting approximately E2.9 billion in SACU receipts during the first week of July and that Government intends to use E850 million from that allocation specifically to settle the outstanding salary review owed to public servants.
“We are planning to use SACU money, so E2.9 billion is coming in the first week of July, and we plan to use E850 million from that money to pay these civil servants the outstanding amounts,” said Rijkenberg.
The Minister’s assurance comes amid growing concerns from some Public Sector Unions who have questioned whether Government would be able to meet its July commitment due to ongoing financial pressures.
However, Rijkenberg stressed that while cash flow remains tight, Government continues to receive revenue every week and is managing its obligations accordingly.
“The fact of the matter is cash flow is very tight. We are at the moment again battling to pay our bills, but every week tax comes in and every week there is money flow, so one just tries to do our best on a constant basis,” he explained.
Despite these challenges, the Minister was unequivocal that Government remains committed to paying public servants as promised.
“The salary review has put cash-flow strain on the whole system, but we are on track to pay civil servants and we’ll do our best to make sure we meet our obligations,” he said.
The anticipated SACU disbursement is expected to provide significant relief to Government’s finances, enabling Treasury to address one of its largest outstanding commitments while also supporting broader fiscal obligations.
The Minister’s comments are likely to provide reassurance to thousands of teachers, nurses, police officers, correctional services personnel and other public servants who have been anxiously awaiting implementation of the salary review.
The confirmation also signals Government’s confidence in its revenue projections and its ability to manage public finances despite short-term cash-flow constraints.
With less than a month before the expected SACU inflow, attention will now shift to the first week of July when the E2.9 billion allocation is expected to arrive, paving the way for the release of E850 million towards the outstanding salary adjustment.
For many public servants across the country, the Minister’s message was clear: Government remains committed to its promise and preparations are already underway to ensure that the outstanding salary review is paid.
The development is expected to boost morale within the public service and inject hundreds of millions of Emalangeni into the economy, as workers receive funds that have been eagerly anticipated for months.
(Courtesy Pic)
