Public transport drivers who are part of the Drivers’ Union in South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria State have gone on strike since late last week demanding the provision of security along different roads in the state.
The strike which started last Thursday follows the murder of a driver between Camp 15 and Kapoeta road in Kor-Galerio bridge last week.
Their vehicles have been parked at bus parks and drivers' homes, paralyzing transportation within the state.
Ramadan Hafir, the head of Drivers’ Union in Eastern Equatoria State said many drivers have lost their lives due to insecurity along the roads.
“A lot of things happen to us but the government does not even care to talk to us. Now it is too much and we regret the deaths of our fellow drivers. All these years we have waited for the government but they cannot meet us to know our challenges that is why we said we have to stop working because we are responsible for all the drivers so that the government can come to speak with us about our challenges," he said.
Taban Peter, one of the drivers, said incidents of highway killings and robberies are increasing and urged the government to provide security as he called for justice for all the drivers killed.
“We are striking because we are dying along the roads and nobody is seeing our right as drivers who are working for the citizens. We are serving this country. We go to Kapoeta, Nadapal and all these places we move as drivers union of eastern Equatoria we are working but today our colleague die and we leave thinking that government will follow but nothing happened but now is the last this is driver number 21 who died”, Taban said.
“We as drivers had to risk our lives to go and bring the dead body of our colleague but the government did not even do anything," he lamented.
He suggests that police checks be reinstated along the main roads to give the drivers hope.
Wany Kartum, one of the stranded passengers at Torit Bus Station said, “I feel so bad because there is a lack of security and people are dying anyhow. I would feel comfortable if the government provide security on the road so that I may be safe. This strike has affected me a lot because I have almost four days here and I have no place I am just renting the house so the fare that I was to use is almost finishing," he said.
Stephen Wani, another passenger, says he has been stranded at the bus park and has been sleeping in one of the parked cars.
“We, the passengers, have spent three days here. Today the money for food alone is finished and the drivers say that they have their complaint they gave to the government," Wani said. "We need the government to provide enough security, to put barracks along the roads, give food for the soldiers to reduce crimes. It is now affecting us."
Eastern Equatoria state Minister of Information Patrick Oting Cyprian says the government has put two barracks between Kapoeta and Torit highway to secure the road.
“As a government, the life of a person is very important indeed, we are very concerned about the lives of drivers and passengers because every soul in this state is very important to us as the government. I just wanted to say that so far the government is working very hard to ensure that road safety is in place," he added.
Oting revealed that the state government is in consultation with the Central Equatoria state government to ensure that police patrols are placed along the main highways.
According to the Driver's Union, nine drivers have lost their lives since the beginning of the year due to insecurity in the state.