PUBLIC TRANSPORT OPERATORS REJECT E1.5M RELIEF

MANZINI - Public transport operators and government are at it again and the public is more likely to bare the brunt.

In fact, public transport operators are saying the transport industry was a perfect example of how government was frustrating companies amid the outbreak of COVID-19, by failing to compensate them. Following the fact that public transport vehicles continue to operate in shifts and at lesser capacity, the operators are demanding compensation from government. Initially, the capacity for public transport vehicles was at 50 per cent, but after five working days, it was reviewed to 70 per cent. According to well-placed sources within the transport industry, currently, government has offered them E1.5 million, to be distributed evenly among the about 3 000 public transport vehicles, including those operating in Cross-border sector. The insiders said this automatically meant that each vehicle would get at least E500. However, the impeccable sources revealed that when government made the initial decision that public transport vehicles would operate at 50 per cent capacity, the administration budgeted E4.5 million to compensate the operators for 15 days.

Expensive

However, they said after the first shift, which comprised 397 vehicles, and having worked for five days at 50 per cent capacity, government had a change of heart. They said government said paying the E4.5 million for 15 days would be expensive for it and it reviewed the capacity to 70 per cent and said there would be no compensation paid under this new arrangement.
The insiders revealed that recently, the Swaziland National Transport Association (SLTA) National Chairman, Mandla Dlamini, led a team comprising the chairpersons of all the associations in the industry to meet the Minister of Public Works and Transport, Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe, over the matter. They said later on, they met with the transport department under the Disaster Management Task Team, which is led by Sihlangu Nhlabatsi, who doubles up as the Chairman of the National Road Transport Council (NRTC).

In their meeting with the task team, they said government tabled E1.5 million as compensation for the 397 public transport vehicles which had operated for five days at 50 per cent capacity. However, the insiders said after a lengthy discussion, it was agreed that all public transport vehicles should benefit from the relief. The leaders of the various associations in the transport industry went to report back to the general membership and they viewed the relief as an insult. In fact, they rejected it on the basis that they would rather park their vehicles.

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