Abuses in Swaziland: DA to request SADC parliamentary forum to convene

The Democratic Alliance (DA) will be requesting the Secretary-General of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Parliamentary Forum, Dr. Esau Chiviya, to convene an urgent meeting to discuss the spate of recent human rights abuses occurring in Swaziland. The country has recently seen serious violations of human rights after an activist for the People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), Sipho Jele, was initially arrested for wearing a t-shirt branded with his party's insignia, and later died under suspicious circumstances whilst under police detention.

More recently, the Swazi government is also reported to have arrested a member of the Swaziland Youth Congress (Swayoco), Sibusiso Mhlanga, for possessing a copy of a City Press article. We shall also be requesting that President Zuma discuss these very serious human rights violations at this weekend's SADC Heads of State meeting in Windhoek. The DA believes that it is time for the South African government to demonstrate its leadership in the region and re-affirm our commitment to human rights.

The DA is dismayed by the South African government's silence on the recent arrest of Swayoco member, Sibusiso Mhlanga, an ominous action amidst allegations against the Swazi authorities of police brutality of activists whilst in detention. The DA views the reasons for the arrest of Mr. Mhlanga as all the more disturbing as he has been detained for being in possession of a copy of a recent City Press story that reported on the alleged scandal in the Swazi Royal house. According to media reports, Mr. Mhlanga's home was raided by police subsequent to his arrest, and the original City Press article was allegedly found in the rubbish bin.

Additionally, according to media reports, Sipho Jele, PUDEMO activist, was arrested on the 1st of May and denied access to visitors whilst in detention. His death was announced four days later by police as having been suicide. Jele's family and civil society organisations such as the Swaziland Federation of Labour (SFL) and the Swaziland National Association of teachers (SNAT) believe he was killed during police interrogation, and calls from civil society in Swaziland for an independent investigation into his death, have been met with silence by the Swazi government.

Both these instances are indicative of a society that lives under an oppressive regime, that of King Mswati III, who denies his citizens what are, in essence, their most basic of human rights.

I will therefore be writing to the Secretary-General of the SADC Parliamentary Forum to request that he convene an urgent meeting to discuss this matter, and I will also write to President Jacob Zuma, calling on him to bring this matter up at this weekend's meeting of the SADC Heads of State in Windhoek, Namibia. It is time for the South African government to give substance to its rhetorical commitment to human rights.

Statement issued by Dr. Wilmot James, MP, Democratic Alliance Member of the SADC Parliamentary Forum, August 13 2010

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