Times Of Swaziland: CHAOS AS PUBLIC TRANSPORT WORKERS CLASH WITH COPS

CHAOS AS PUBLIC TRANSPORT WORKERS CLASH WITH COPS
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BY VUYILE DLAMINI AND STANLEY KHUMALO on 11/05/2021 08:50:00


MANZINI – There was chaos in Manzini yesterday as public transport drivers and
conductors clashed with members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS).
The conductors demanded that police officers halt operations that have seen them
being blocked from ranking along their usual kombi routes. Passersby watched
from the sidelines when a van and a Quantum full of kombi drivers and conductors
caused a standstill as they placed large rocks and tree stumps on the road, in
an effort to block vehicles entering and exiting the Manzini Bus Rank. Some of
the conductors and drivers proceeded to place car tyres and large rubbish bins
along the Grand Valley (GV) road leading into the bus rank, while blocking other
vehicles from entering the area. Mayhem ensued with a radical group of
protesters going to the extent of jumping and clinging onto moving public
transport vehicles, while attempting to stop them from leaving with passengers.
Shock
The public, who watched the chaos in shock, had to resort to walking after
several public transport vehicles were stopped and made to offload passengers.
For about 30 minutes, the public transport workers sang and danced in circles,
chanted, threw car tyres, disposal bins and beer cases on the road, while others
were seen hailing batons whenever a vehicle attempted to pass through. Some
bystanders were heard wondering when the police would arrive to control the
chaos. A traffic police officer, who was at GV failed to control the situation
as they danced and threw the waste bins in front of him while he walked on the
road. This resulted in the police reinforcing, which then led to a skirmish as
the public transport employees pelted them with stones and all sorts of
missiles.
Engage
Seeing the increased police presence, the public transport workers then fled the
scene to engage in the same act at the Nazarene Traffic Lights. Members of the
Operational Support Services Unit (OSSU) were later deployed. They were armed
and they monitored the situation, while ensuring peace and order around the
area. At Nazarene, the drivers and conductors again caused a standstill as a
large group walked in the middle of traffic, blocking motorists from entering
Manzini town. Members of the public who were walking on the pavements on both
sides of the road, could be seen running towards the KaKhoza direction, as the
protestors followed closely.