Swazi Observer

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NO PUBLIC TRANSPORT DURING THE DAY

By Sifiso Nhlabatsi | 2020-03-27

THE public transport industry announced that it would halt operations during the day and would only ferry passengers in the morning and afternoon hours.

This move was announced by Chairman of the National Road Transportation Council Sihlangu Nhlabatsi during a press briefing yesterday.

Nhlabatsi said the public transport operators, through the National Road Transport Council, in consultation with stakeholders, have studied the statement from government and came with a resolution to work with government to curb the spread of coronavirus pandemic. He said the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines that people should observe a social distance of one metre from the next person was not possible with the transport modes available in the country.

He said as public transport operators they have since resolved to partially suspend the public transportation from the start of the announced partial lockdown.

“Public transport would be available for those who offer essential services and those who urgently require moving from one point to the other as governed by the country’s directive,” Nhlabatsi stated.

He said public transport would be offered on a rotational basis to the operators and at stipulated times, which would be in the morning and the afternoon. Nhlabatsi said those who would go to town midday would not be able to access public transport.

The NRTC chairman said people who would be going to town for leisure activities would not have access to public transport. Nhlabatsi said they would have selected transport.

He said the vehicles that would undertake to ferry passengers would have to observe the directive from the country’s authorities, which involves the social distance of one metre distance between passengers; disinfection of vehicles and sanitisation of passengers at all times.

The chairman explained that additional public transport would always be on standby to assist on any essential movement whenever required to do so by government or any organisation that is trying to combat the pandemic. He said transport would be available for those who might need essential services at stipulated times.

“We kindly request our customers to observe all the safety measures and assist our employees in their quest to move the country around. Lastly, we would like to inform the public that the transport sector has a mouthpiece where information can be sought. We urge the media to consult the relevant people. We don’t want to issue differing information during these trying times,” Nhlabatsi stated.

He said the transport sector was involved at the national disaster forum and at regional level. “We request members of the public to assist where they can, stay at home if you can,” Nhlabatsi said.

Public transport conductors to

be paid if...

Since many public transport vehicles would be stationary and only work on a rotational basis for the next 20 days, a lot of conductors would find themselves having to take some time off from work.

Employers in the public transport sector have promised that they would be able to pay conductors provided banks give them a three-month break. Most public transport operators are still paying banks after they secured loans to buy their vehicles. Nhlabatsi said they have since applied for a three months break.

Nhlabatsi urged members of the public to make sure that they pay with loose coins in kombis and buses so that the exchange of money could be kept at a minimum.

He further said passengers must not refuse to sanitise their hands. He said passengers must not be afraid to ask for masks when boarding public transport if they are sick.

‘This is not a holiday

it is a lockdown’

Swaziland Commercial Amadoda Road Transport Council (SCARTCO) Chairman Duma Msibi has warned members of the public that the partial lockdown is not a holiday.

He said people must not move from the urban areas to rural areas to stay with their elderly relatives.

Msibi said old people have a weakened immune system and if it happens that those who move from town to the rural areas have been infected, the elderly at the rural areas would suffer more. Msibi said if it were according to them as public transport operators, they would have suggested for a total lockdown.

He however, said at the end of the day, because of the situation transport was needed and must be provided.

‘We will deal with defiant members’

Transport operators who would defy the working procedures that would be put in place by government working with the National Road Transportation Council (NRTC) would face the wrath of the law.

In the next 20 days, transport operators are expected to adhere to a roster when it comes to transporting passengers. The roster would allow public transport vehicles to work on stipulated times. Those who will take chances and ferry passengers without approval from the council would be dealt with.

This is according to NRTC Chairman Sihlangu Nhlabatsi.

He said problems would always be there, adding that with time people would understand the importance of this exercise and adhere to the partial lockdown regulations.

He explained that there would be police officers who would ensure compliance. Passengers were urged to report any public transport vehicle which would not adhere to the one metre distance between passengers.

Passengers to call hotline if required distance not observed

Passengers who will find themselves in a situation whereby they are packed like sardines in a public transport vehicle have been advised to contact the police or call a hotline that would be provided in due course. This after there were concerns that drivers and conductors might use the situation to their advantage and pack passengers they found stranded on the roads. Since public transport vehicles would be travelling on stipulated times, a lot of passengers who would want to go to town during the day would find themselves stranded.

Nhlabatsi said they would provide a hotline for passengers to call if they find themselves in a situation that exposes them to infections during their trips. He said as the transport industry, they were still engaging with government on further logistics. He said there would be no overloading in public transport. Meanwhile, taxis will not carry more than three passengers.

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