MANZINI – A 36-year-old bus conductor reportedly died after being run over by the same bus he was conducting.
The bus was loaded with passengers.
The incident occurred on the public road near the Big Tree Galp complex, opposite Eswatini Beverages, at approximately 5am on Wednesday, according to the police. The exact circumstances leading to the tragic death could not be immediately ascertained.
However, witnesses at the scene said they saw the bus, which they suspected to have had a mechanical fault, come to a stop before the conductor alighted.
They said the bus conductor then proceeded to get underneath the bus, as if to inspect a suspected mechanical fault, without notifying the driver and passengers onboard. The driver, aged 37, reportedly drove off, resulting in the bus running over the conductor.
“We saw him rolling until he died. He had injuries all over his body,” said an eyewitness.
Officers from Eswatini National Fire, Rescue and Emergency Service (ENFRES) are said to have arrived later, only to find the conductor motionless.
The conductor reportedly sustained serious injuries to both legs and was rushed to hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
It has been gathered that police have established investigations to establish how the accident occurred. Those knowledgeable about the operations of the bus said the early morning timing of the incident suggests that the workers of the bus were preparing to start their daily routine, which involves examining the bus for possible mechanical faults and loading luggage, prior to departure.
The Big Tree Galp complex is a busy transport hub along the Matsapha corridor and is frequented daily by workers heading to industrial areas.
Those familiar with the area note that it can be hazardous in the early hours when it is still dark and there is usually heavy vehicle movement as buses prepare to launch into routes.
Colleagues and operators within the public transport sector described the incident as tragic and deeply unsettling. One bus operator stated that it highlighted the dangers faced by conductors, who often work in close proximity to moving vehicles. “These are the people who keep our operations running,” he said.
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The scene (circled) where the bus conductor was reportedly killed by the bus near the Big Tree Shopping Complex. (Pic: Sibusiso Shange)