Mbabane: The Central Transport Administration (CTA) garage premises in Mbabane is in such shabby condition that even the bordering fence is falling apart.
A visit to the government’s largest garage revealed overgrown weeds all around the premises, and so tall are they that one must strain to be able see some parts of the place.
The weeds are even shrouding the scrap cars that are left for ruin and it should not be a wonder that snakes have found home there.
“One must walk cautiously when inspecting the old vehicles parked at the premises lest a snake struck and he got bitten,” said the garage’s General Transport Manager, Washington Khumalo.
Khumalo stated that the condition of the premises has been reported an umpteenth time to the relevant authorities and all they were told was that they should forward a request to the correctional services which would deploy inmates to clean the place up. Khumalo said the only problem that he has had with the deployment of inmates was that it conflicted with their rehabilitative program, considering that they would learn nothing from the mere cutting of the grass. He said from what he knew about the incarcerated is that they are to learn a skill or a trade which they would use on liberation. “What skill do you learn from cutting grass and re-erecting the falling fence,” asked the GTM obviously without expecting an answer.
Only one groundsman
The General Transport Manager mentioned that the about twelve (12) hectors premises is taken care of by only one groundsman. “How do you expect such a huge place to be cleaned up by one person?” asked the GTM. He said in the area of groundsmen the garage is understaffed and reinforcement is only necessary if the garage is to reach the status of a property belonging to the largest employer in the country.
The GTM also mentioned that the scrap cars kept at the premises also contributed to the terrible condition of the place, hence an auction sale is needed.
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