Times Of Swaziland: DECEMBER 13 THREAT: NO TRANSPORT, SWATCAWU INSISTS; STAY HOME - SNAT

DECEMBER 13 THREAT: NO TRANSPORT, SWATCAWU INSISTS; STAY HOME - SNAT
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Sithembile Hlatshwayo on 06/12/2022 07:58:00


MBABANE – The Swaziland Transport, Communication and Allied Workers Union
(SWATCAWU) is adamant that there will be no transport on December 13, 2022.
On the other hand, the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) has
also urged teachers and pupils to remain home on the said date.
SWATCAWU Secretary General (SG) Sticks Nkambule, said transport was not going to
be available, even to ferry people to the High Court in Mbabane, where Members
of Parliament (MPs), Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube would be
appearing. Nkambule said everyone in the transport industry would not be working
on the day, including kombis, midi buses and buses. When questioned if December
13 would be a normal working day, the SG stated that he had no information about
the activities of the day, but was addressing the transport industry.
Available
He said the transport industry would not be available on the day to attend to
the MPs issue. Furthermore, when asked on how the other sectors, including
pupils and teachers would reach school as there would be no transport, he said
they were not responsible. “From us, there is no assistance we can give to
pupils and teachers, and we cannot assume on behalf of other people that may
need some interventions,” the SG said. Nkambule said any other parties
involved in the activities of the day could speak for themselves. He added that
it was common cause that when there was no transport available, other sectors
were also affected.
Meanwhile, when asked what would happen if the MPs were not released, he said
they would cross that bridge when they got there. Nkambule said the call for MPs
to be released was not new as it had been there since last year, adding that
they would continue to push it and not allow the calls to die. SNAT SG Lot
Vilakati said if transport would not be available, their advice to teachers was
that they should remain at home. Vilakati said the educators should not even
attempt to go to work but stay at home. The SG stated that they would apply
Section 18 of the Occupation Safety and Health Act 2001.
Danger
He said the Act clearly stated that employees should not expose themselves to a
place of danger. Vilakati highlighted that experience had taught them that
soldiers shot workers when going to and from work if transport was not
available. He said recently, an MTN employee was also shot by soldiers while
coming from work, while others were beaten up. When Vilakati was asked what
would happen with pupils who were writing their external examinations, he said
such was for the Examinations Council to decide. “They postponed it previously
after realising that the situation was not normal, maybe they will do the same
on the day,” Vilakati said.
The SG said teachers were not refusing to go to work, but that they had no
alternative if transport was not available. Principal Secretary (PS) in the
Ministry of Education and Training Bhekithemba Gama, said there was nothing
decided yet, as they were waiting for government to issue a directive. When
questioned about another possible postponement as pupils were sitting for their
examinations, the PS said there was nothing planned. He stated that it was the
Examinations Council that made a proposal and announced it. Asked on
government’s position on the matter regarding transport unavailability,
Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo said the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM)
Themba Masuku would address the matter during a press conference today.