PUBLIC TRANSPORT MARCH DENIED DUE TO NATIONAL SECURITY

MANZINI – Public transport workers have been denied the right to march today.

The public transport workers, servicing the Manzini Bus Rank, had been informed by one of their unions – Swaziland Transport Communication and Allied Workers Union (SWATCAWU) – that they would today deliver a petition to the Manzini Police Regional Headquarters (RHQ). When announcing the intention to march in the city, SWATCAWU Secretary General (SG) Sticks Nkambule had written a letter to the Municipal Council of Manzini Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Lungile Dlamini. In it, he was requesting permission from the municipality for the public transport workers’ procession to use Meintjies, Mahleka, Martin, Ngwane, Nkoseluhlaza, Sandlane, Mancishane and Louw Streets. It is worth noting that these aforementioned streets link the central business district (CBD) of Manzini.

Meeting

In response to the request by SWATCAWU, through their SG, the Manzini Municipal Council CEO said following a meeting held yesterday between the union, her organisation and the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS), the march was denied. Dlamini said: “The national commissioner of police has the mandate to prohibit the gathering or march if he has reasons to believe that the march will endanger the maintenance of public order and safety. During the aforesaid meeting, the Manzini Police RHQ representatives did not consent to the march due to issues of national security.” The CEO said in light of this, the municipality did not accede to the application by SWATCAWU, which was dated May 13, 2022, and in particular the proposed march which was slated for today.

She further articulated in the letter that the police also stated in the meeting that there was currently a standing court order, case number 77/22B, between the Swaziland Local Transport Association (SLTA) against SWATCAWU. This was further confirmed by the Council Information and Communications Officer Mathokoza Thwala. He said: “Due to national security concerns and other issues communicated to the union, the request by SWATCAWU to march in the city tomorrow (today) was not granted.” SWATCAWU had sought to have a procession from the Manzini Bus Rank to the Manzini Police RHQ to deliver a petition by its members. Worth noting is that SWATCAWU was leading the public transport workers in their quest to raise welfare issues in an industrial action that grounded the country for almost two weeks.

In explaining the need for the petition delivery, Nkambule further said: “The brute and excessive force unleashed on students and other members of the general public by armed forces cannot go unnoticed. Especially noting how highhanded behaviour is occasionally meted on members in their line of duty. This procession shall deliver these grievances among others to the police.” He supposed that the police brutality was gaining momentum instead of regressing. Nkambule said these incidents were affecting their members and customers. The SG claimed that the conduct of the police on Friday caused disruptions to transport operations, endangered public property, customers and SWATCAWU members who were going about their daily duties.

On Friday, students under the banner of the Swaziland National Union of Student (SNUS) commemorated the day on which University of Eswatini (UNESWA) Law student, Thabani Nkomonye died at the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) Centre. Nkomonye died under questionable circumstances, resulting in students under the banner of SNUS marching to demand answers regarding his demise. Their qualm was that Nkomonye’s body was discovered six days after the accident, wherein members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) had claimed to have searched and not found the body. On the fateful day, Nkomonye was driving a Mazda Demio, which was towed to the Matsapha Police Station, despite the deceased having been reported missing. Subsequent to the pressure that was exerted by students, as they alleged their colleague had died due to police brutality, government appointed a coroner to lead an inquest into his (Nkomonye’s) demise.

Clashed

During the deceased student’s commemoration, about 1 000 attendees sought to march and deliver a petition to the Manzini police RHQ; however, they clashed with the police as stun grenades were thrown at them. Several tear gas canisters were fired towards the protesters and part of the canisters fell in the midst of the crowd, while others fell in front of them. The police also fired rubber bullets at the protesters who were at the SNAT Centre and also towards the Manzini Infant Practising Primary School. As the tear gas canisters emitted the fumes, the protesters inside SNAT Centre were seen climbing the wall fence and jumped over it as they retreated.

Also, the tear gas fumes affected some of the pupils from Manzini Infant Practising Primary School. Some of the affected and traumatised pupils came towards the gate crying and they asked some of the police officers and journalists to call their parents to come and fetch them. Others asked the police to inform their parents about the incident so they could call bomalume (transport workers who chauffeur pupils) to hurry and pick them. It was reported by our sister publication – Eswatini News – that three protesters were shot by the police in the skirmish.

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