Times Of Swaziland: LIMITED PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN THE MORNING, AFTERNOON ONLY

LIMITED PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN THE MORNING, AFTERNOON ONLY
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 BY SIBUSISO ZWANE on 27/03/2020 01:14:00


MANZINI - Public transport operators have taken steps to restrict the movement
of people during the country’s partial lockdown by parking a majority of their
vehicles and only transporting essential services providers in the morning and
afternoon.
The steps taken by the public transport operators, who include bus and kombi
owners, together with taxi operators were announced by the National Road
Transport Council (NRTC) Chairman Sihlangu Nhlabatsi during a press conference
yesterday. The press conference was held at the Swaziland Local Transport
Association (SLTA) offices in Manzini.
The chairman said public transport operators through the NRTC and in
consultation with stakeholders, had studied the statement from government
regarding the partial lockdown. He said they resolved to work hand-in-hand with
the country in curbing the pandemic.
On that note, he said due to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) advice
about social distancing, that people should be at least a metre apart, which was
not possible in the transport modes available in the country, they had decided
to partially suspend passenger transportation. He said this would be effective
from the start of the announced partial lockdown, which is tonight.
He said only a few public transport vehicles would be available during the
period. He said it would be available for people who offered essential services
and those who urgently required moving from one point to another, especially for
medical purposes, as per government’s directive.
Rotational
The chairman said this would be done on rotational basis by operators and at
stipulated times which would be in the morning and afternoon only. He said they
were already working on a schedule to ensure transparent rotation of the
vehicles.
However, he mentioned that the availability of the vehicles in the morning and
afternoon, was subject to review because if government felt there was a need for
transport during the day, they would provide it.
“The vehicles ferrying passengers will have to observe the directive from the
country’s authorities which will involve the allowable metre distance between
passengers,” the chairman said.
Furthermore, he added that the vehicles would also have disinfectants to
disinfect passengers at all times.
He said they would also ensure that the vehicles were clean and disinfected at
all times.
The chairman also mentioned that additional public transport vehicles would
always be on standby to assist on any essential movement whenever required to do
so by government or any organisation that would be trying to curb the pandemic.
On that note, he kindly requested their fellow customers to observe all
precautionary measures and assist the public transport workers in their quest to
move the country around. He said they should be clean when they left their
homes, try to carry money that would not require change and make sure they had
eaten something.
“Those who might not feel well should indicate so that they can be provided
with masks,” the chairman said.
He emphasised that most public transport vehicles would be parked and he advised
members of the public that it would be wise to stay home since the partial
lockdown was not a time for vacations.