CHAOS AS PUBLIC TRANSPORT WORKERS CLASH WITH COPS

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.

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