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1. Many people forced to turn back at borders

 * BY MUSA NHLEKO and BONISILE MAKHUBU**

MBABANE - Many people felt the brunt of the blockade staged by the People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN), as they were forced to go back to their respective homes.

This was after the blockades at five of the country's borders into South Africa were blocked by political formations from both South Africa and Swaziland.


 * Affected**

Most affected were kombi and mini bus operators who, after spending hours waiting for the blockade to end, were forced to drive back home.

"I thought the prime minister said there will be no problems at the border," said one kombi driver at the Lavumisa Border Post while a number of truck drivers stood by and watched.

People travelling on their own, were equally disappointed and opted for the easy way out, which was to go back home.

"Will it be like this tomorrow as well?" one woman who looked obviously irritated wanted to know? The authorities on the Swaziland side looked at her with no solution to the problem and stated that they had no idea.

2. There is no rift between SFTU, COSATU- Jan

 * BY BONISILE MAKHUBU**


 * MBABANE** – The Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU) has denied allegations of a conflict with the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)

In a statement issued yesterday SFTU Secretary General Jan Sithole confirmed their strong and unreserved support of the action and the agreement with the issues for which the blockade was called.


 * Breakdown**

"Our non-participation in this event is as a result of communication breakdown and not a misunderstanding," he said.

Sithole said it should be noted that it was not COSATU that called for the blockade but it was participating in support of the Swazi struggle.

He emphasised that SFTU together with the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) overly denounced the constitution through a petition, a position that they still uphold.

Said Sithole, "We condemn the arrest and shooting of protesters that took place at the South African side of the borders and we call for the release of the arrested protestors."

Sithole said they were against the SA police brutality on Deputy President for COSATU, Deputy President NEHAM, Deputy President NUMSA and Treasurer NEHAM who were taken to hospital after the police shot them.

Sithole concluded by saying, "SFTU denies the aspects of the article on the third page of yesterday's Swazi Observer titled "Blockade today dismissal tomorrow" and some of the citations under the topic "tight security at border posts" alleged to have been said by the Secretary General.


 * Apology**

This issue has since been discussed with the Observer editor. The parties have since agreed to settle with an apology from Observer.

When called last night the editor confirmed discussing the discrepancies carried in the article. "We have made an arrangement to run a retraction," he said.

3. Block future blockades ( Comment )
The action by South African trade unions to stifle the local economy by staging a blockade in the name of a "peaceful protest" warrants serious action by the local and South African Governments.

In fact it calls for SADC attention.

Unions cannot hold any country at ransom in total disregard of existing bilateral and trade agreements, irrespective of the course.

The SA government's delayed action to disperse the crowd is also a cause for serious concern.

Peaceful demonstrations are one thing but blocking movement of people and goods in and out of the country is a totally different matter and it should not have been allowed to happen, not for one minute.

Unions have an obligation to respect the sovereignty of other nations and a duty to observe structures put in place to deal with matters of a political nature, as much as they call upon governments to respect labour laws and basic human rights.

If anything, the unions exceeded their mandate to cause untold harm to an economy that supports the workers in whose sympathy they staged the blockade.

The SA union leaders demonstrated total disregard towards the interests of the Swazi workers who had made it abundantly clear that they would not participate in the blockade.

We do believe there are structures within the SA government through which they could have channeled their concerns and lobbied for action. 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

4. Eight shot during blockade

 * BY BONISILE MAKHUBU**


 * OSHOEK** – Eight people were rushed to the Shongwe Mission Hospital, Malelane, after being shot at by police during the 'Bad Good Friday for Swaziland' blockade at the Matsamo Border Post.

During the shooting 30 other people were arrested for refusing to disperse after being ordered to do so by members of the South African Police Services (SAPS). The police used rubber bullets to disperse the otherwise determined crowd, which seemed determined to see its objectives through.

That eight people had been rushed to hospital and that 30 were arrested was met with sounds of viva from the over 200 members of different organisations from both South Africa and Swaziland.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) President, Zwelinzima Vavi, announced the news of the arrests and injuries. Vavi said he had just received a call from four of the arrested who said they were at the back of a police van that was transporting them to a police station somewhere in Phongola.

"All I can say is that we are sympathising with them but we are not surprised by this because it goes with a real struggle," he said.

He said he was also a victim and has been arrested countless times for participating in political struggles.

Vavi said this to the applause of the comrades who shouted "viva" and promised to go straight to Phongola after finishing off with the border blockade.

At the time of compiling this report, it could not be established whether any of the local protesters were injured or arrested. Similar accidents were not reported at the other border gates where the blockades were staged namely; Oshoek, Lavumisa, Mahamba and Mananga. Most people who formed part of the blockade said there was no need to worry about the arrest of the 30 members because the situation they are in now will give them some kind of training and they will grow stronger.

The Swaziland Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Vusie Masuku said he heard about the arrests but could not comment as it happened on the South African side of the border. Strong police and army presence was witnessed on the local side of the borders. While distancing itself from the blockade, citing its lack of participation to communication breakdown, the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions condemned with contempt it deserves the arrest and shooting of protesters, which took place at the South African side of the borders, and call for the unconditional release of the arrested protesters. "We further vehemently condemn the brutality by the South Africa Police on peaceful protesters from which the Deputy President of COSATU, the Deputy President of NEHAWU, the Deputy President NUMSA and the Treasurer of NEHAWU got hurt." According to information gathered, four of the arrested are;


 * Joe Nkosi – Deputy President of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)
 * Cedric Gina – Second Deputy president of the National Union of Metal Workers (NUMSA)
 * Zet Luzipho – Secretary of COSATU (KwaZulu Natal)
 * Michael Makwayiba – Second Deputy President of the National Health, Education and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU).


 * From: [|http://www.times.co.sz/002.html#article9]**