BARS CLOSED BUT ‘SPOTS’ BOOMING - TINDVUNA

PIGG’S PEAK – While bars remain closed during certain hours in urban areas, informal spots are booming in rural areas. 

This was revealed yesterday during a sensitisation exercise organised by the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA). 

Various tindvuna from areas around northern Hhohho attended the event where they were addressed by the Regional Administrator, Princess Tsandzile. 

They expressed concern that despite the continuous efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the country, imbibers were not concerned about this. 

Jamuluti Matsaba, who is the indvuna of Mashobeni North, said it was difficult to stop people from drinking at the various watering holes scattered around rural areas. He said the number of people imbibing without regard for the COVID-19 regulations was increasing.  

Steven Shabangu, the indvuna of Emvembili, also said the situation was worsening in the rural areas. He called upon the police to assist in ensuring that there was compliance. 

Princess Tsandzile, in response to the concerns, said they should use local community police to monitor this. He said the various imiphakatsi were the authorities in rural areas. “Let’s work together,” said Princess Tsandzile. She urged that they should handle the matter quickly.

Arrested

However, some of the tindvuna said they had tried this but ended up being arrested. They said only police officers had the right to enter the premises and stop people from operating illegal drinking spots. 

The tindvuna said there were instances where they had been reported to the police for interfering and they ended up in court. 

Mandla Mavuso, who is a senior officer at the Regional Administrator’s (RA) office in Pigg’s Peak, also reminded the tindvuna that they also had authority to charge anyone who violated the COVID-19 regulations. He said they were the authority in the rural areas. “Nitsi senehlulekile?” asked Mavuso meaning, “are you saying you have failed?”

In driving his point, Mavuso reminded the tindvuna of a children’s game known as masibhacelane where one person hides and then others have to look for him or her. 

He said in the game, if the seekers failed to find the person, they were supposed to say ‘sehlulekile’. He told the tindvuna that they should make it clear if they had failed to perform their duties. 

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