The now controversial SADC driving license saga has taken another twist as stakeholders have threatened to embark on a protest march to force government to comply with the requirements of the SADC Protocol on Transport, Communication and Meteorology.
Sources close to the matter disclosed that the stakeholders, who include among others, transport operators, owners of driving schools, Road Safety Council and the Royal Swaziland Police are now fed up with government’s delaying tactics in implementing the protocol.
They revealed that they are planning a ‘mother of all’ protest march to deliver petitions to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport as well as Houses of Parliament.
The bone of contention now is that local motorists are being slapped with heavy fines in South Africa for driving without the SADC driving license otherwise known as the ‘C’ License as enshrined in the SADC Protocol signed by Swaziland and other countries in the region. The Weekend Observer has proof that local drivers are fined no less than E1500 for driving in South African roads without the mandatory ‘C’ License.
“We are heavily fined by the South African police and they are giving us a tough time. We reported this matter to the Ministry and they assured us that it was being looked into but right now we are being sent from pillar to post with no one taking responsibility. We are suffering and government must show that they are concerned with our plight,” said one source who preferred anonymity.
Secretary of the Swaziland Interstate Kombis Association, Ncedi Magagula said Swazi drivers were now driving to South Africa at their own risk while Parliament and the ministry responsible for transport are at each other’s throats.
He then blamed Parliament for imposing a boycott on any business brought to the August house by the Minister of Public Works and Transport Ntuthuko Dlamini.
“We were amongst the first people to be consulted on this issue and we made representations accordingly. We are now seriously concerned at the blame game that is going on between the Minister of Public Works and Transport and Parliament. As a union we are not blaming the Minister because he consulted us and we know him to have an open door policy.”
“We are surprised by the behaviour of our legislators for shunning Minister Dlamini. What is he supposed to do now? Parliament’s core function is to enact laws not to fight personal wars in the chambers,” said a furious Magagula.
Lutfo Dlamini, Minister of Labour and Social Security confirmed the threats by the unions to embark on a protest action.
“This is official because the issue of SADC driving licenses was presented as a demand by one of the transport workers unions. As government we take such threats seriously and we hope in the next few weeks the matter will be put to rest. Our role as a Ministry is to bring all the partners concerned together and forge a way forward amicably,” said Dlamini.