MBABANE: Sabelo Dlamini, the Secretary General of the Eswatini Local Kombis Association has challenged Sticks Nkambule of the Swaziland Transport, Communication and Allied Workers Union(SWATCAWU) to first verify the causes of the ongoing fatal accidents before accusing them.
This comes after Sticks Nkambule, the Public Transport Union SG released a statement, accusing the public transport owners of being behind the causes of the accidents.
A fatal accident occurred at Nhlambeni along Yithi Abantu Highway on Friday, the accident involved a Toyota Quantum and a Toyota Fortuner on Thursday afternoon.
"SWATCAWU once called for a general inspection to assess the state of compliance to minimum standards set for the road transportation industry. The inspection was conducted by the office of the Commissioner of Labour. The outcome of it confirmed widespread violation of the law by the road transport bosses, particularly those specializing in the provision of transport to members of the public. Among others the report confirmed that transport workers drive and or work excessively long hours per day, no overtime payment, no consistent rest days per week, no consistency in annual leave for workers to recharge and have family time. This flagrant violation of national and international law may not continue unabated," reads the statement in part released by the SWATCAWU General Secretary.
Reached for comments, Sabelo Dlamini the Secretary General of the Swaziland Local Kombis Association said, SWATCAWU must first verify the course of the recent accident before blaming someone else.
"I think SWATCAWU need to verify what was the course of the accidents before blaming someone else," said the Secretary General.
Public Transport Workers Union says owners are responsible for fatal accidents, Local Kombis Association Secretary General Sabelo Dlamini clarifies.