Swazi border blockades fall flat

MBABANE – This year’s attempt by political activists to blockade Swaziland’s border posts with South Africa failed to affect business activity in the country or impede cross-border commercial traffic. Following last year’s similarly lacklustre effort, the use of border blockades to press for political reform in the landlocked kingdom may be reconsidered by Swazi and South African organisers. Although the four major border posts with South Africa were targeted for closure by the banned Swazi political party, The People’s United Democratic Front (PUDEMO), activity occurred only at the Oshoek Border Post, which is most heavily utilised by road cargo traffic to and from Gauteng. Twelve protesters were arrested by Swazi police, who ensured that what they described as illegal gatherings were kept away from border posts. However, traffic was disrupted for about four hours on the South African side, where PUDEMO allies, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and the African National Congress Youth League, sent about 60 members.