NUMBERS DROP AT INFORMAL CROSSINGS

MHLANGATANE – Residents in communities along the borderline seem to have gotten the message on how best COVID-19 transmission can be prevented.

Over a week ago, the residents, particularly around Mhlangatane, claimed they would not stop using informal crossings but they seem to have backtracked on this. On Saturday, during a visit to some of the informal crossings, it was found that the number of people entering into the country or leaving had dropped. This was confirmed by transport operators who usually use vans to transport travellers in and out of the kingdom. The travellers then use informal crossings normally manned by members of the Umbufto Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF).

Spread

Even at the informal crossings, members of the army have taken steps to prevent the spread of the disease by providing water to wash hands to members of the public as they arrive into or leave the country. Transport operator Musa Ngwenya said the numbers of people entering the country or leaving had dropped. Ngwenya said this was a good sign that people were heeding to the warnings by government. He said during the week, it appeared the numbers were much lesser than the norm. Ngwenya said on Saturday, the first van left at about 2:30pm. He said it was the first time this had happened, adding that this was a sign that people were no longer travelling to SA. Though he said this was a good sign in the prevention of the spread of the virus, Ngwenya said it was a huge impact on their business.

Another driver Sibusiso Nsingwane said the number of commuters had dropped drastically.  Commuter Selina Tsabedze said it was difficult not to enter Eswatini or SA for people living along the borderline. “As you can see, I went to buy mealie meal,” she said. She said it was cheaper to go to SA because one can even walk there while Buhleni, which is the nearest Eswatini town, was far. Tsabedze said it was for this reason that people entered SA or vice versa adding that they would starve to death if they did not. Some of the residents said the closure of schools by both countries may also have contributed to the low movement. They said this meant that children learning in SA did not have to return home every weekend.

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