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Public Transport Workers vow to take it up a notch in the future if their demands continue being ignored by authorities.

 Transport workers vow to take it up a notch if demands continue being ignored

From the 12th October 2021 transport workers ,mainly the drivers and assistants of minibus transport , have been engaged in industrial action over a range of issues. The action was directed at the government ,the police and the owners of the minibuses, their employers and it was finally called off on Thursday 21 October.

The Swazi Labour Insight (SLI) caught up with the Secretary General of the Swaziland Transport, Communications and Allied Workers Union (SWATCAWU) Comrade Stix Nkhambule (pictured below) to help the rest of us to appreciate their objectives when they engaged in the industrial action, their achievements in the action and what they intend to do going forward. 

       SWATCAWU Secretary General Comrade Stix Nkhambule (Picture courtesy of Times of eSwatini Facebook page)

1. Swazi Labour Insight :Thank you for taking the time to talk to us Comrade Secretary General

Stix Nkhambule (SN): My pleasure Comrade.

2. SLI: To start with how many signed up members does SWATCAWU have on its books amongst the public transport sector Comrades?

SN: We currently have a signed up membership of above 2674

3. SLI: What are the key grievances that led the public transport sector workers to the industrial action in the past eight days?

SN:    The issues were are as follows

  •  Release of incarcerated Members of Parliament ( Honourable Mthandeni Dube and Honourable Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza)
  • End to the persecution of MP Honourable Mduduzi Gawzela Simelane
  • Democratic reforms towards a peoples government
  • E4000.00 minimum wage
  • End to police harassment and brutality to transport workers while carrying out their duties
  • Full compliance to statutory regulations on working conditions
4. SLI: We witnessed scenes of extreme violence metered on public transport workers by the state ,what is the state of casualties so far?
SN: This is an ongoing assessment ,to date we have 10 state brutality casualties and one case of death.


     Above pictures: Transport workers protest action in the town of Malkerns on Tuesday 12th October 2021.

5. SLI: To what extent have the grievances been met by the relevant authorities?

SN: Time frame commitments have been made by the government (and employers) to attend to the grievances, there has also been a task team formed to work on the demands and there was consensus on a collaborative programme going forward.

6. SLI: What informed the announcement to ending of the strike after eight days?

SN: The willingness of the stakeholders to meaningfully engage on the issues that workers raised. However one must add that there is need for strategy shift with a clear demarcation on where government fails us. 

A consensus to go back to work was established under the auspices of the Multi Stakeholders Forum.

7. SLI: What are the future plans for public transport workers by SWATCAWU ,are there prospects for shutting down the whole transport sector in the future if the demands are not met?

SN: In the event no action on the part of the government (and the employers) is forthcoming. or no efforts are not being made to meet the workers demands  ,there are definitely  more calculated shutdown on the cards in the future.

8. SLI: Thank your for your time Cde SG

SN: My Pleasure Comrade.


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