Africa-Press – Eswatini. Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku has revealed that government will resolutely back Friday’s interim court order stopping the planned shutdown by public transport workers unions.
This comes after they threatened that there would be no public transport on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Speaking at Cabinet Offices yesterday afternoon, Masuku advised all Emaswati to go to work on both days as public transport would be available and security would be availed on the day.
He further noted that the unions did not own any of the vehicles in the industry hence transport would be available.
“At the outset, let me reaffirm and assure the nation that government will not allow this illegal act to happen. We will continue to use every asset and resource to protect the people of this country and to ensure that their lives are not disrupted in any manner,” he said.
Masuku further highlighted that government was disturbed by this threat and, therefore, as an entity that is responsible for law and order, as well as observing the rule of law, had taken a step to approach the courts of law to stop this illegal action to interrupt transportation activities.
“The courts have listened and heard our application and granted an interim order against the action. For the record, the interim order is against a certain Sticks Nkambule, Swaziland Transport communication and Allied Workers Union, Eswatini Kombi and Buses Association and the Swaziland Commercial Amadoda Transport Association,” he said.
For the record and information of the nation, he recalled that the interim order clearly pointed out that with immediate effect, the above cited respondents in the matter were interdicted and restrained with their members from embarking in the strike action.
“They cannot promote the action. Therefore, government has an interim ruling from the courts to the effect that there should be no strike action. We will resolutely back this up,” stated the acting prime minister.
On Friday, the Industrial Court issued the interim order stopping the shutdown after Minister of Labour and Social Security Phila Buthelezi ran to court in a bid to stop it.
The matter was heard with a certificate of urgency as the minister filed an application interdicting and restraining the four respondents or anyone acting on their behest from embarking on or going on with, or promoting, encouraging, supporting or participating in the strike action called by the unions.
The urgent application was before Judge Abande Dlamini, who granted the interim order in terms of a rule nisi calling upon the respondents (unions) to show cause why the sought orders by the minister should not be made final.
Represented by Attorney General (AG) Sifiso Mafelenkosini Khumalo, the minister also sought an order interdicting the unions or anyone acting on their behest from engaging in any form of a march, public transport disturbance, strike action or protest on Tuesday or any future date.
The minister was also seeking an order interdicting the unions from inciting their members or any employees employed in their line of duty from engaging in any form of a march, strike action, public transport disturbance or whatsoever action, including that of Tuesday and any future date.
The minister wants an order interdicting the two unions from encouraging their members or anyone sympathising with them from issuing threats to passenger vehicle owners, passengers, other road users and general members of the public using transport services and that members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) be ordered to enforce the orders of court. Judge Dlamini, ordered that the interim order is returnable tomorrow as the respondents were expected to have filed their papers.
There was no appearance on behalf of the respondents who were called by the court orderly three times without a response.
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