SOME COMMUTERS HEADED FOR MBABANE TURNED BACK

EZULWINI - Some commuters who failed to convince security personnel on the reasons for their travel to the capital city were turned back at a roadblock manned at Mvutjini yesterday.

This was after some were found in possession of alcohol inside public transport. At around 7am yesterday, some commuters were already on their way back home from the roadblock. They shared that they were turned back after they had failed to give satisfactory reasons for their visit to Mbabane. “I was on my way to Mbabane from Goje Township,” said one of the commuters, who was already on his way home from the roadblock. “The police have taken my alcohol and the unfortunate thing is that the kombi driver left with my change, which means I have to walk to Goje Township now.”

Clearly

The commuter did not come out clearly when asked about the purpose of his travel to Mbabane. Another commuter tried in vain to negotiate with the police officers to allow him to proceed to Mbabane. “We said go back,” a police officer told the commuter.  This reporter counted at least 10 commuters who were turned back at Mvutjini. Some were carrying bottles of vodka. The first group of males was told to disembark from a kombi, which was from Lobamba. The police officer, when speaking to the commuters, said it was not morally acceptable for any normal person to be drunk before 8am. “These people know where they are going so early in the morning. We are asking them to go back where they are coming from,” the officer was heard saying to his colleagues. Over 13 Toyota Quantums were stopped by the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) officers and every passenger was searched. When the men, who were told to get off the Quantum were interviewed, they mentioned that the reason they were drinking so early was because they had problems.

Alcohol

“Alcohol is not an excuse but we have problems. That is why we are drinking, we are not going anywhere to cause chaos,” said one of the men. Another group was seen trying to reason with the police after they had their alcohol confiscated and were told to remain behind. “We used money to get here, we will not even get a refund? Please sir, allow us to continue with our journey, we will not cause trouble,” pleaded the men. One of the police officers at the roadblock stated that they suspected that the commuters had no reasons for going to town, other than causing chaos.  He said there was no way a person could drink alcohol and further carry beer bottles at around 7am.

The officer of the law further stated that people with satisfactory reasons were allowed go to Mbabane, as they were not against anyone travelling. Noted was that motor vehicles were thoroughly searched at the roadblock. Another roadblock was manned at Nkoyoyo, where motorists were searched, at around 8am. Armed officers from the REPS and (HMCS) were deployed strategically next to the road.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: