Workers of the Swaziland Revenue Authority at the tiny kingdom’s borders have downed tools. The workers, who have been picketing near the country’s border posts since last week, are demanding salary increase among other things.
Oshoek and Lebombo border Posts are among the busiest port of entries in the Mpumalanga province during this time of the year.
Long queues are already experienced at the two border posts.
Authorities say about 1900 vehicles were passing tollgates on the N4 road towards the Lebombo Border post to Mozambique on Friday midday.
However operations at the Oshoek Border Post to Swaziland have been slightly disrupted as workers of the Swaziland Revenue Authority embark on a strike.
Secretary of the Swaziland Revenue Authority Workers Union, Moses Masilela says, “We are demanding a salary increment of about 6 % and we are demanding housing allowance minimum wage of about 11 000.”
Travellers formed long queues at the Osheok border post.
However Manager for the Swaziland Revenue Authority, Vusi Dlamini says they have a contingency plan.
“We have put contingency plans and things have been going on well. Some people would have thought the border will close.”
Meanwhile, the Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison called on motorists to be vigilant of the roads.
Spokesperson for the department Joseph Mabuza says, “Lebombo Border Post is congested especially with trucks that are going to Mozambique. So people should be cautious.”
Traffic officers and members of South African Police Services are manning road blocks on all the busy roads in the province.
