The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in KwaZulu-Natal pledges its commitment and solidarity to the people of Swaziland. The federation calls on all progressive forces to agitate for the economic and political isolation of the Mswati government. This campaign needs to be strengthened and intensified so that the exploited and oppressed people of Swaziland can be freed from the shackles of the Mswati regime.

Contrary to its false claims of peace and order in Swaziland, the regime is continuing to expose the people of Swaziland to serious sufferings and exploitation. The State is paralysed and the country is on the verge of collapse.

The people are dying because of the failing health system, children and women are raped, workers are striking and protesting for wage increases, taxes have escalated exorbitantly; university students are targeted and the judiciary is centralised by the individuals.

There is no quality healthcare the programme, the education system remains untransformed, and the media freedom is nonexistent.

The feudal state is failing to comprehend the demands of its citizens, while some questionable and corrupt characters in the business community are looking at Swaziland as a business haven.    

The Tinkhundla security forces arrest innocent protesters and the monarchy uses tradition to justify its wrongdoings. The crisis within the country is dire and needs all progressive forces to agitate for the economic and political isolation of the Swaziland feudal regime.

COSATU in KZN will not sit idle while the monarchy ill-treats its people. What makes this sadder is that both the African Union and SADC are colluding with the regime and condoning this subjugation. People of Swaziland deserve institutions that will represent their aspirations, freedom of choice and freedom of speech.

The Federation will be intensifying the campaign in the province and working with the other neighbouring provinces, as a fight back against the dictatorship in Swaziland. The details of our picket are as follows:

Date            : 26th July 2019

Venue          : Golela/Lavumisa Border, KZN Inbound (Pongola)

Time           : 10h00 a.m.

The following organizations have been mobilized, all unions of COSATU, South African Communist Party (SACP), African National Congress(ANC), South African National Civic Organisation(SANCO), Young Communist League of South Africa (YCLSA), South African Student’s Congress (SASCO), Congress of South African Students (COSAS), African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS), People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO, Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA), Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN).

COSATU is a progressive and revolutionary left Federation of the workers of South Africa with an internationalist outlook. Therefore the plight facing the poor communities in one part of the globe is both our interest and revolutionary responsibility, as we always say “An Injury to One, Is an Injury to All”. This is what other countries did in pledging solidarity support against the apartheid regime in South Africa, and this is what we shall continue to do in support of the oppressed people in other parts of the world i.e. Palestine, Sub-Saharan Africa, Venezuela, Morocco, Sudan, Cuba, DRC, Swaziland etc.

 

Issued by COSATU KZN