/ 6 November 2013

Cosatu calls for boycott of Swaziland soccer match

Cosatu Calls For Boycott Of Swaziland Soccer Match

The South African Football Association (Safa) should call off the upcoming soccer match between South Africa and Swaziland, Cosatu said on Wednesday.

"This is in line with the federation's strong support for the cultural boycott of King Mswati III's brutal monarchist dictatorship," Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven said in a statement.

The friendly match is scheduled to be played on November 15 in Mbabane.

Craven said Mswati had denied Swaziland's people their most basic democratic rights by banning political parties and refusing to recognise the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland.

"He uses force and fear to intimidate and subjugate the people of Swaziland," he said.

"Meanwhile, he continues to loot state resources to feed himself and his rapacious criminal family, at a time when the Swaziland economy and its health system are collapsing and poverty levels have escalated."

Democracy
Craven said the ruling elite in Swaziland would not stop democracy from expressing itself.

"That is why the democratic forces in Swaziland have asked for a cultural boycott, similar to the sport and cultural boycott against apartheid South Africa.

"The aim of the boycott is to expose the true nature of the royal dictatorship and show the people that the rest of the world is on their side."

He said the presence of South Africa's players in Mbabane would undoubtedly be hailed by Mswati's government as an endorsement of its legitimacy and policies.

Cancelling the match would send a powerful message to the regime. – Sapa