By Lwazi Dlamini
The Ministry of Public Works and Transport has moved swiftly to suspend all passenger fresh applications for road transport service permits, amendments that have an effect of increasing fleet of vehicles and any variations that may result in increasing supply of road transport services in oversupplied routes.
The suspension will last for nine months, beginning on July 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025.
The Ministry of Public Works and Transport through a statement released by Minister Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe explained that the decision to suspend the fresh road transport passenger service applications is intended to allow for in-depth study of travel demand in the country.
“The Ministry of Public Works and Transport is mandated to contribute towards sustainable economic development and attainment of national vision through the provision and maintenance of quality environmentally friendly and accessible public infrastructure and enabling atmosphere for a safe, efficient transportation system,” part of the statement reads.
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The Minister added: “In recent times, it has become evident that the supply of passenger public service vehicles is more than the demand for certain routes whilst some areas remain insufficiently serviced. It is also evident that the balance of modes of travel available is also skewed.”
Ndwandwe also stated that the Ministry is finalizing the Upgrading of the Road Transport Management System which shall further enhance the close regulation of the road transport services industry helping to optimize services.
“The Road Transportation Act, of 2007 provides for the imposition of permit ceilings per route where such routes are found to be adequately serviced.
This suspension is meant to allow an in-depth study of the travel demand in the country to determine where demand for passenger transport still exists.
For the routes which shall be confirmed as oversupplied, the Ministry shall impose a ceiling as per the Road Transportation Act, 2007,” the Minister said.
The Minister said the oversupply has negative implications for the entire spectrum of road transportation and some of these include:
- Competition over commuters on the same route
- Increase in road traffic crashes
- Increase in road traffic deaths and serious injuries
- Frequent requests to increase bus fares, to provide just a few
“If unabated, this can cause general disruption in the entire transportation services. The Eswatini National Road Safety Strategy 2023-2030 also identified the need to review public transport systems (formal and informal) to promote greater use of public transport and in turn, improve road safety,” he added.
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The Minister added: “This decision has been taken following extensive consultation with the Road Transportation Board and National Transport Body (Road Transport Council). Other interested or close entities involved include the Road Transportation Appeals Board and the Road Safety Council of Eswatini.
The presentation forming the above Boards and Councils span across a wide spectrum of society, therefore inclusive.”
The Minister said during the suspension period, a Technical Team comprising Ministry officials and representatives of key stakeholders inclusive of the Boards and Councils, shall undertake an In-depth Review of the Passenger Travel Demand in the country to identify service gaps and service oversupply.
“The Road Transportation Board and Road Transportation Appeals Board shall continue with attending to other matters in their purview except for the suspended matters.
The Ministry appeals for support of this initiative from the general population as measures are made to improve this sector,” the statement from the Minister reads in conclusion.
