TRUCK DRIVERS STAGE BORDER BLOCKADE

MBABANE – The swift intervention of the police averted what could have been a nasty stand-off between truck drivers and motorists at the Ngwenya Border gate yesterday morning.

Close to 100 truck drivers staged a blockade just a few metres to the border gate, which was meant to force border officials to attend to their grievance, that of fast-tracking the processing of their COVID-19 test results. Traffic police officers were called to calm the situation and the drivers aborted their protest. 

The COVID-19 tests are being conducted on the South African side and both the local truck drivers and those from the neighbouring state decried the snail’s pace in the processing of their results and claimed only a certain number of the drivers were to be tested a day. 

Affected

Both incoming and exiting motorists were affected by this scenario. The truck drivers claimed the new developments of being subjected to undergoing new tests started yesterday after the South African government issued a notice to the effect that all truck and courier drivers were expected to undergo new tests upon their arrival at the entry points between the two countries.

Sifiso Mdaka, from a trucking business based in Matsapha, alleged that the officers in charge of conducting the tests informed them that they would only allow 85 people to test per day yet there were over 100 of them crossing the busy Ngwenya Border Gate on a daily basis.

“I will only be crossing tomorrow (today) after learning that already they have reached the daily testing quota. It is frustrating and we wanted the local officials to engage their South African counterparts to intervene and increase the number of testing officials that side,” Mdaka said. The truck drivers claimed that they were not informed prior to this arrangement being effected.

The drivers indicated that the SA government had introduced the 30-day preliminary test period as means to avert congestion at the border gates during the festive holidays. The drivers claimed the arrangement  had a negative effect on their work as they had to camp at the border gate for their results.

Initially, both governments had agreed on a 14-day preliminary test period when the COVID-19 measures were relaxed. 

A South African national truck driver, Fana Dube, said he entered the country last week Friday and found that the notice was to take effect yesterday.

“I had gone to Bhunya to fetch a load. Today (yesterday), I found that the new arrangement has resulted in a congestion in the trucking business and the queues are frustrating. I will be crossing tomorrow (today), because today it’s impossible. We decided to block the road to force the officials at the border gate to listen to our grievance,” Dube said.

Another local truck driver, Nkonzo Simelane, appealed to both countries’ governments to work on finding a lasting and amicable solution on the matter.

“We arrived before the opening time of the border gate, but we were told the officials in charge of conducting the tests that side will be coming at 10am. That has resulted in the congestion and the delay in the processing of our results,” said Nkonzo.

Ministry of Home Affairs Chief Immigration Officer Makhosi Simelane confirmed the misunderstanding that erupted at the border gate, mentioning that confrontations were bound to happen, particularly when new procedures were introduced.

“Resistance to change is bound to happen, especially due to the long queues that resulted from the latest developments. The new arrangement stipulates that all courier and truck drivers are expected to take the tests that will validate them for 30 days to ease the congestion at the border gates. However, today (yesterday), it was the first day hence the congestion and frustration that resulted in the misunderstanding. But there is nothing that can be done and they have to comply as per the directive. There is no limit in the number of people to be tested. The only problem is that the officers knock off at 4pm yet the queue continues to be long,” he said.

Sihlangu Nhlabatsi, Chairman of the Swaziland National Truck Association (SNTA), confirmed having been informed about the situation that unfolded at the border.

Teething

“These are teething issues which we were made aware of due to the surge in numbers of the infection cases of  COVID-19. There was an arrangement of a 14-day testing grace period but the South African government effected a new arrangement. It was gathered that most of the drivers don’t stay at work but go to their different homes after their shifts, hence the introduction of the new testing procedure. I will find out more about the new arrangement from the officials at the border gate,” Nhlabatsi said.

Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati said there was a new system of testing that started yesterday, hence the congestion.

“We will continue to monitor compliance as the new arrangement is being effected,” she said.

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