Lobamba – The Eswatini Road Transportation National Council (ERTNC) has intensified efforts to tackle persistent road safety challenges by mobilising the financial sector to support compliance within the public transport industry.
During a multi-stakeholder forum held at Lobamba, ERTNC underscored the urgent need for coordinated action to ensure vehicles maintain roadworthiness and that transport operators have access to financial tools that can help them meet national safety standards.
The Local Transport Association Secretary General, Musa Dlamini, emphasised that road safety is a shared responsibility involving regulators, operators, and the commuting public. He said they hold the transport month to not only raise awareness but actively involve communities in safety monitoring.
“We are sensitising the public to say they should also be whistleblowers. If they see that a transport vehicle is not in good shape, it must be reported,” Dlamini said.
The coinciding transport month campaign focuses on creating safer roads and empowering communities to actively report unsafe transport practices. Dlamini noted that many operators struggle to comply with vehicle maintenance and upgrade requirements due to financial barriers. By bringing banks, financial brokers, and insurance companies into the conversation, the ERTNC aims to explore affordable financing options, improved insurance compliance, and accessible funding models for vehicle replacement.
The Council reiterated its intention to collaborate with all partners, financial institutions, regulators, and transport users, to build a safer and more reliable public transport system.
“Our priority is promoting safety for our communities, while also ensuring operators receive the financial support necessary to provide secure and compliant transport services,” Dlamini added.
Dlamini urged the public to remain vigilant and to report unsafe vehicles, reinforcing the central message of transport month: ‘safety begins with collective responsibility.’
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