DECEMBER 13 THREAT: NO TRANSPORT, SWATCAWU INSISTS; STAY HOME - SNAT

MBABANE – The Swaziland Transport, Communication and Allied Workers Union (SWATCAWU) is adamant that there will be no transport on December 13, 2022.

On the other hand, the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) has also urged teachers and pupils to remain home on the said date.
SWATCAWU Secretary General (SG) Sticks Nkambule, said transport was not going to be available, even to ferry people to the High Court in Mbabane, where Members of Parliament (MPs), Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube would be appearing. Nkambule said everyone in the transport industry would not be working on the day, including kombis, midi buses and buses. When questioned if December 13 would be a normal working day, the SG stated that he had no information about the activities of the day, but was addressing the transport industry.

Available

He said the transport industry would not be available on the day to attend to the MPs issue. Furthermore, when asked on how the other sectors, including pupils and teachers would reach school as there would be no transport, he said they were not responsible. “From us, there is no assistance we can give to pupils and teachers, and we cannot assume on behalf of other people that may need some interventions,” the SG said. Nkambule said any other parties involved in the activities of the day could speak for themselves. He added that it was common cause that when there was no transport available, other sectors were also affected.

Meanwhile, when asked what would happen if the MPs were not released, he said they would cross that bridge when they got there. Nkambule said the call for MPs to be released was not new as it had been there since last year, adding that they would continue to push it and not allow the calls to die. SNAT SG Lot Vilakati said if transport would not be available, their advice to teachers was that they should remain at home. Vilakati said the educators should not even attempt to go to work but stay at home. The SG stated that they would apply Section 18 of the Occupation Safety and Health Act 2001.

Danger

He said the Act clearly stated that employees should not expose themselves to a place of danger. Vilakati highlighted that experience had taught them that soldiers shot workers when going to and from work if transport was not available. He said recently, an MTN employee was also shot by soldiers while coming from work, while others were beaten up. When Vilakati was asked what would happen with pupils who were writing their external examinations, he said such was for the Examinations Council to decide. “They postponed it previously after realising that the situation was not normal, maybe they will do the same on the day,” Vilakati said.

The SG said teachers were not refusing to go to work, but that they had no alternative if transport was not available. Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Education and Training Bhekithemba Gama, said there was nothing decided yet, as they were waiting for government to issue a directive. When questioned about another possible postponement as pupils were sitting for their examinations, the PS said there was nothing planned. He stated that it was the Examinations Council that made a proposal and announced it. Asked on government’s position on the matter regarding transport unavailability, Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo said the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Themba Masuku would address the matter during a press conference today.

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