Panic as bus rank workers demand colleague’s release
INVESTIGATIONS:
Inspector Mnguni said the public transport worker was released as investigations were still ongoing. She said if the police would need him again for their investigations, they know where to find him. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIllllllllllllllllll
MANZINI - There was panic and traffic flow was disturbed in Manzini as some public transport workers marched to the police to demand the release of their colleague.
This took place just after 9 am yesterday and the public transport worker, whose name is known to this publication, but will not be revealed because he has not been charged, was arrested on Thursday during the public transport employees’ protest action in Manzini.
The protest was over their displeasure on the court’s decision to fix bail for their five colleagues who were charged with assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, at E6 000 for each.
During the protest action, members of the State security organs; mainly the police and soldiers, clashed with the public transport workers.
This was after some properties, including Manzini Bus Rank Police Post and Build It Hardware were burnt, while others like Sausage Salon, Nando’s, KFC, Futi’s and Websters Stationary, together with a truck from Southern Star Logistics, among others, were left with shattered windowpanes and windscreens.
In the process, a source close to the matter said the police rounded up and arrested one of the public transport workers who were protesting. The source alleged that the police found him with a container, which they suspected was carrying petrol.
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He added that the assumption of the police was that the public transport worker in question could be linked to the torching of either the Manzini Bus Rank Police Post or Build It Hardware - near the bus rank, or both.
As a result, he said the law enforcers detained the public transport workers.
After the morning rush hour yesterday, the source said some of the concerned public transport workers had a caucus about their arrested colleague and they believed that he was innocent.
Therefore, he said the public transport workers decided to march to the Manzini Police Station, where he spent the night of Thursday, to demand that he should be released.
The concerned public transport workers marched to the police station and this resulted in members of the public, including motorists and businesses, pressing the panic button.
Some people who were at the bus rank ran helter-skelter, while some motorists ended up driving against oncoming cars while trying to move their vehicles to safety. On the same note, most businesses, closed for a while.
Upon arriving at the police station, they sent some representatives to table their demand to the superiors.
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In the meantime, those who remained behind raise a number of concerns to some of the officers, who attended them. Some of them complained about assault and shooting of the protestors.
“Some of you (police officers) protested sometime back over Phase II, but no one assaulted or shot you. Why did you assault and shoot us?” some of the public transport workers wondered.
Again, others told the police officers that they should arrest their colleague based on evidence, instead of assumptions and hearsays.
Later on, the representatives were seen coming out of the police station together with their colleague who was detained. They reacted to his release by blowing whistles, singing and dancing to political songs and slogans.
Meanwhile, others lifted him up and carried him to the Manzini Bus Rank. In the process, the free flow of traffic was disturbed as they marched on the main road.
Upon reaching the bus rank, they had a brief discussion with their colleague, after which they continued with their work.
Meanwhile, Deputy Police and Communications Officer Inspector Nosipho Mnguni confirmed that the public transport worker, who was apprehended during the protest action on Thursday, had been released.
She said the public transport worker was released as investigations were still ongoing. She said if the police would need him again for their investigations, they knew where to find him.
The five public transport workers were charged with the offence of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, in that on November 2, 2022 at Manzini City Centre, they allegedly assaulted Abdullah Aziz Kolia with a knobkerrie, sjambock several times all over the body.
They are said to have also assaulted him with fists and kicks on the face with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm.
They are currently out on bail. Their trial will start on December 14, 2022.