All Hlatikhulu ATMs vandalised

HLATI KHULU–In order to get cash, Hlatikhulu residents need to travel to Nhlangano as all automated teller machines ( ATMs) in their town were vandalised and are still not operational.

The vandalism of the ATMs and shops in the town took place during the political unrest that culminated in looting, vandalising and burning of property three weeks ago.

It has been over three weeks now since the ATM sand shops were vandalised and residents need to travel to Nhlangano in order to access their money and other banking services.

One of the residents, who elected to comment on condition of anonymity, said it pained t hem because one needed to spend at least E36 as bus fare from Hlatikhulu to Nhlangano even if he wanted to withdraw as little as E50.

Hlatikhulu town basically has no banks but ATMs which were destroyed.

Destroyed

In an earlier interview, Standard Bank Marketing and Communications Specialist Sibusile Sigwane said a total of 12 of their ATMs were destroyed. Sigwane said ATMs were destroyed in several different cities and towns in the country, which included Mahlanya, Mathangeni, Kwaluseni, Lu dz e lu dze, Hluti, Hlatikhulu, Nhlangano OBC Centre, Nhlangano Pick n Pay, Lavumisa Border, Fairview in Manzini, Pigg’s Peak Bus Rank and Mbabane Industrial Site.

With regard to the turnaround time for repair, Sigwane said they could only confirm once they had finalised assessing the magnitude of the damages incurred.

Marketing Manager of Swaziland Building Society Veli Dlamini also confirmed that some of their ATMs were damaged during the mayhem.

“We are still on the ground assessing the damage and related subsequent monetary loss,” she said.

Meanwhile, the residents said currently there was only one supermarket which was operational in their town, Sondelani Supermarket.

The residents said even this one was looted but it had a back up storage that was left untouched.

A r esi dent s ai d another food supplying shop that was operational was a butchery which was unable to service the whole community, hence they had to drive to Nhlangano for shopping.

They also noted that Nhlangano was also affected during the unrest hence not all shops were functional in that town.

Overcrowded

The residents decried that Nhlangano town often became overcrowded because it needed to service its local residents and those coming from other places like Hlatikhulu, Lavumisa and Hluthi.

Another thorn in the flesh for Hlatikhulu residents is the state of their roads, which is dire. The residents said roads leading to town or even those in the town centre were very bad.

Hlati khulu Town Clerk Bongani Dlamini said they were equally frustrated by the situation in their town because residents often found it difficult to get bread.

He said the unrest came at a time when they were still trying to develop their town and now this set them back.

Dlamini sympathised with all the business owners who were affected by the situation. He pleaded with them not to leave the town but rather come back and figure out a way on rebuilding their businesses.

Regarding the roads, Dlamini said the situation was not painting a good picture of the town, more especially to visitors.

He said, nonetheless, they were trying all possible means to get help to fix the roads.