SD POLITICAL ACTIVIST MANHANDLED IN SA

MBABANE – A Swazi political activist was reportedly violently manhandled by security guards at the Department of Home Affairs in South Africa.

The incident is said to have happened outside the Department of Home Affairs in Marabastad, where the Swazi activist had gone to seek update on his asylum status. This happened to Kenneth Kunene, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS) who was in the company of other activists who had also gone to seek an update on their asylum status.

Like the other members of the Party, Kunene had gone to seek his refugee status.
The activists were allegedly attacked despite that, according to the asylum permit, they deserve fair treatment and not be treated as rejected members of the society.

Mistreated

When sought for comment, Kunene confirmed the incident and alleged that their members have been routinely mistreated as some of the department’s personnel wanted certain ‘favours’.
These are the activists currently stuck in the republic after their asylum status was rejected on appeal by the South African government.

The  country’s reasons to reject their asylum permits were on the grounds that there was no way political opposition activists could be subjected to persecution in Swaziland. The SA government also said Swaziland provides a sound citizen security and would, therefore, not be a threat to the political activists and that there was space for engagement.

Kunene further revealed that the matter between the South African government and the Swazi political activist would be reviewed next month. He said the CPS and its affected members were currently facing a legal battle in SA against efforts by the Department of Home Affairs to refuse them asylum status.

The other members are Goodwill DuPont who is the party’s Deputy National Chairperson and Felix Mabaso who is the International Organiser. Kunene has, however, raised concern that he will likely face a similar refusal of asylum when his case comes up for review next month.
“The CPS has been greatly heartened by the solidarity shown by the republic’s government and separately by the South African Communist Party. They have called for asylum status for ‘those fleeing persecution’from Swaziland.
Undoubtedly, such support has had some influence in getting the Department of Home Affairs to review the cases of our members.

“Asylum claims must, by international law, be investigated thoroughly, including through independent analysis of the situation faced by applicants in the home country they have been forced to flee.
“Our members would prefer to be with their families and loved ones in Swaziland. However, the CPS members who have claimed asylum face real threats of imprisonment and torture should they be forced to return to Swaziland.

Exiles

“The CPS feels it is precisely because they are communists that they are being targeted in such a way. It is not because they are ‘political exiles’ or ‘activists’.
It is because they are leaders of the communist party. This cannot be emphasised enough,” Kunene said.
The CPS general secretary alleged that it was no secret that Swazi agents were present in many shapes and forms in South Africa.

He further alleged that the big part of their mission was to disrupt, split, intimidate and otherwise destabilise organised opposition to the Swazi government.
Kunene further said it was not inconceivable that such agents were in positions in the SA civil service to undermine communist activity and influence in South Africa generally.
He said in the past, other Swazi activists have been given asylum in South Africa and that the refusal of asylum has been targeted at the CPS specifically.

“The CPS reiterates its gratitude to the SACP and the South African government in supporting the cause of asylum status for our members, as well as the solidarity expressed by communist parties from abroad.
“The spectre of anti-communism and anti-socialism is nowadays more evident than it has been for many years. Only concerted, openly-expressed and direct solidarity among progressive parties and movements will help defeat it,” Kunene said.

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