Eswatini Railways engineer and train crews have downed tools in protest against an end to their visas into and out of South Africa. Although they must bring their trains into South Africa from Eswatini, they no longer have legal documentation that allows them to enter the country, where goods in transit via Eswatini are taken to Durban by Transnet Freight Rail.
“We are forced to be illegal immigrants,” reports a letter sent to Eswatini Railways management by the striking workers, who complain they must dodge South African immigration officials during what should be routine execution of their duties.
“We are forced to sleep outside without shelter at Komatipoort and Golela borders. [We have to] use informal crossing paths,” the workers state in their letters.
The informal border crossings have been carved out by informal traders seeking to circumvent customs procedures, and more recently by Swazis without Covid-19 documentation required for travelling into and out of the country.
The chief immigration officer of the ministry of home affairs wrote to the workers’ union in September that the rail workers’ visas, called long stamps, were being withdrawn, pending review of procedures.
In a press statement, Eswatini Railways said: “Regarding the safety of the workers crew complaint we will request the office of Train and Operations and Inspectorate Managers to engage relevant authorities.”
Freight News reached out to Eswatini Railways for further comment, but calls were not returned.
