The police’s Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) has opened an attempted murder investigation after protesters were shot at during a pro-democracy picket at Swazi border posts, spokesperson Steve Mabona said on Thursday.
”We have opened an attempted murder case docket,” said Mabona.
Seven people were injured and 25 arrested in the protests commemorating Swazi King Sobhuza II’s institution 33 years ago of an ongoing state of emergency. Political parties are banned in the kingdom.
Twenty people, including a senior Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) member, were arrested at the Jeppesrus border post for allegedly contravening the Public Gathering Act by blockading roads.
Police used rubber bullets to remove them from the road.
In Golela, KwaZulu-Natal, five people were arrested, also for contravening the Act.
Mabona said Cosatu had agreed to help the ICD investigation.
”We have indicated to Cosatu that we need their co-operation in terms of them availing their victims for statements.”
Cosatu was also expected to lodge an official complaint with the ICD on Tuesday, he said.
”We will definitely be calling for an investigation,” said spokesperson Patrick Craven.
Swaziland Solidarity Network spokesperson Lucky Lukhele said those arrested had all been released on bail by 11am on Thursday. One person remained in hospital.
Five trade union leaders were among those arrested.
They were Cosatu first deputy-president Joel Nkosi, National Union of Metal Workers’ of SA second deputy president Sedrick Gcina, Nehawu Health, Education and Allied Workers’ Union national treasurer Brabir Badal and its second deputy president Mzwandile Makgayiba, and Cosatu KwaZulu-Natal provincial secretary Zet
Luzibo.
In an editorial, The Times of Swaziland slammed the protesters for blocking the country’s borders in spite of bilateral trade agreements.
The South African government’s delay in dispersing the crowd was cause for concern, it wrote.
The newspaper called for ”serious action” by both governments and the SA Development Community.
”Employing guerilla or mafia tactics of blocking the road and denying citizens of both countries, business people and tourists their right to move freely deserves stern action that will put an end to such barbaric acts in future.”
Lukhele was not surprised by the editorial, believing the government instructed the media to issue such statements.
”The media does not have a space in Swaziland,” he said.
Given the Swazi economy’s high dependence on South Africa, Lukhele believed that the pickets would pressurise the South African and Mozambican governments to start addressing concerns about their neighbour.
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) condemned the police action and said its general secretary Thulas Nxesi, who is in the United Kingdom, would raise the matter with the British labour movement.
He would also brief members of Education International in his capacity as its president. – Sapa