Eswatini students send solidarity message to South African counterparts, condemn police brutality
The Swaziland National Union of Students said it had noted continuous elements of injustice, with systematic victimisation and killings committed by South African law enforcement agencies.
PRETORIA, March 15 (ANA) – As student formations in South Africa on Monday intensified calls for a national shutdown over financial aid issues, their counterparts in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) sent messages of solidarity and condemned what they called the heavy-handedness of law enforcement agencies to suppress protests.
In a statement, the Swaziland National Union of Students (SNUS) said it had noted “some continuous elements of injustices with systematic victimisation and killings imposed by the South African law enforcement and parts of its academic institutions with an intention to suppress any student activism advocating for academic freedom”.
SNUS secretary for international affairs Mahle Maseko condemned the killing of bystander Mthokozisi Ntumba who was allegedly shot by police during a student protest in Braamfontein, Johannesburg last week.
“The union completely condemns such inhuman actions. Not only that, but we also send our heartfelt condolences to the family of the bystander who was shot and killed by state agents. The incitement of violations, killings and victimisation actually undermines the freedom and democracy which many South Africans fought for post 1994,” said Maseko.
“With almost 27 years of a democratic South Africa, it is very disappointing to observe some instances of backwardness and mediocrity that seeks to undermine the right to free and quality education for young South Africans.”
The Eswatini students called on the South African government to write off historical student debt.
“We demand South African academic institutions and the government to respect the freedom charter and formally remove historic debts on students’ fees so that they continue with their academic studies smoothly since most of them have been severely affected financially due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Maseko.
“They deserve to learn because that is their task as young people. Swazi students urge their peers to stand against any form of injustices that violates their rights and freedoms.”
On Sunday, the leader of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters Julius Malema promised the family of Ntumba that his party will help them ensure that the government paid for the death of the 35-year-old father.
Ntumba was returning from a doctor’s visit when he was allegedly caught in the crossfire as police tried to quell a protest at Johannesburg’s University of the Witwatersrand last Wednesday.
– African News Agency (ANA), Editing by Stella Mapenzauswa
