TRAFFIC JAMS AS MOTORISTS QUEUE FOR FUEL

MANZINI – Motorists found themselves faced with another headache of queueing for fuel yesterday.

Traffic was at a standstill in Manzini as streets used one lane due to long queues for fuel. This was because there has been fuel shortages since last week when the pro-democracy protests culminated into vandalism, looting and torching of structures. This resulted in the disruption of fuel deliveries as most fuel trucks were stuck at points of entry. In Manzini, the fuel shortage in most filling stations resulted in traffic along Ngwane Street being at a standstill as vehicles were abandoned in the road on Monday after the motorists queued for hours to refuel at Galp Filling Station adjacent to Tracar.

Yesterday morning, security personnel had trouble controlling traffic as the cars had filled two lanes still seeking to get fuel. It was the same case at the Galp Filling Station along Nkoseluhlaza Street. Also in anticipation of getting fuel, vehicles had formed two lanes leading to the entry of the fuel service station. However, some motorists abandoned the mission later on in the day and started queueing at the Riverside Total Filling Station. At this service station, they parked for hours before they fuelled at around 2:30pm. At the Total Filling Station at Nazarene, fuel was delivered at around 1pm after motorists had been queueing since morning. At Moneni Bonjour Total Filling Station, employees were found seated and chatting while members of the security forces stood by. Instead, management of the filling station had set a barrier line preventing motorists from entering the service station as there was no fuel.

Also, at the Galp Filling Station located next to Manzini Central High School, motorists formed long queues seeking to get fuel, but there was none. At Mhlaleni, traffic started at KaKhoza traffic lights. However, during the lunch hour, pumps were still dry.
On the other hand, in Matsapha, traffic started at Eteni overhead bridge as motorists trailed towards three filling stations – Rob’s Total Filling Station and Big Tree Galp Filling Station. At Big Tree Galp Filling Station, by 2pm, there was still no fuel since Sunday, but only diesel. At Rob’s Total Filling Station, cars blocked the free flow of traffic at the Mahhala traffic circle as they sought entry into Matsamo Shopping Complex. Traffic moved at a snail’s pace while fuel attendants were running around refuelling cars. The same applied at Total Rob’s Garage which is located near Star Paint. Besides the fuel shortage, both towns were abuzz as businesses and people seemed to have heeded  governments call to return to work. Shops were operating normally save for those that were vandalised during the pro-democracy protests last week.

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