Deep ties between ANC and Swazi monarchy

The convention selected a delegation that included Pixley Seme, Reverend Rubusana, Tengo Jabavu, Alfred Mangena, TM Mapikelela, and D Divanya, to go to England and express their concerns over racially exclusionary provisions in the proposed South African Act which established the new Government of South Africa.

The convention further resolved that a permanent national black organisation should be established.

In 1911; Seme, Plaatje and others met in Jozi to plan for setting up a nationwide, united, black political organisation, and they decided to hold a nationwide meeting of representatives the following year, to formally organise a united group.

On January 8, 1912, blacks from all over South Africa and Bechuanaland met once again at Bloemfontein to discuss the formation of the new organisation.

Pixley Seme set the theme in this opening address: "Chiefs of Royal Blood and gentlemen of our race, we have gathered here to consider and discuss a theme which my colleagues and I have decided to place before you. We have discovered that in the land of their birth, Africans are treated as hewers of wood and drawers of water.

The white people of this country have formed what is known as the Union of South Africa – a union in which we have no voice in the making of the laws and no part in their administration. We have called you, therefore, to this conference, so that we can together devise ways and means of forming our national union for the purpose of creating unity and defending our rights and privileges."

As a result of this gathering, the South African Native National Congress was established, unanimously, to loud cheers.

This South African Native National Congress, the forerunner of the African National Congress (ANC), was essentially concerned with the economic and political well-being of the black citizens of South Africa during its early formative years. In 1925, the name of the organisation was changed to the South African National Congress, which has since been shortened to the African National Congress (ANC).

Furthermore, in responding to Pixley ka Isaka Seme (a young South African barrister who was also a legal advisor to King Sobhuza II), representatives from four provinces of South Africa, prominent individuals, clergymen and Chiefs gathered on 8th January, 1912, at a church hall in Bloem-fontein, to found the ANC.

The delegates came from as far as what was then Nort-hern Rhodesia (now Zambia), Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and even from Mo-zambique, then a Portuguese colony. In that very meeting, a House of Notables, to be chaired by King Letsie II of Lesotho, was establi-shed.

No one can wish away the strong historical bond of co-operation that exists between the ANC and the Swazi monarchy.

The courageous Queen Mother Labotsibeni made tremendous contributions towards the liberation of South Africa. She aligned Swaziland with the South African Native National Congress.

At the advice of her legal advisor Pixley Ka-Isaka Seme, seconded by the SANNC, she donated a sum of three thousand pounds sterling (£3 000) to the SANNC for the purchase of equipment for the publication of a SANNC newspaper called ‘Abantu Batho.’ the South African struggle united the political opinions of the elite and the traditional leaders for the liberation of Southern Africa.

Following in her footsteps came His Majesty King Sobhuza II, an openly card-carrying member of the ANC.

The apartheid regime knew that he was dedicated to the ideals of the ANC, which he joined as a young man. King Sobhuza II supported the ANC until his demise in August 1982. At times he used Vernon Mwanga, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Zambia during Dr Kenneth Kaunda’s presidency, as a conduit to transfer money to the ANC Headquarters in Lusaka.

It is vital for our young and future generations to understand that the ANC is an old comrade of the Swazi monarchy, and this relationship manifests itself when our monarch visits the Republic for mutual consultations. The Swazi monarchy is always in solidarity with the ANC on mutual interests.

No force can isolate the Swazi monarchy from the ANC, and no force can isolate the ANC from the Swazi monarchy. The Swazi monarchy and the ANC are comrades, indeed. Both comrades are cognizant of the pains and scars of destabilisation perpetrated by the now-defunct apartheid regime; not only here in Swaziland, but also in the whole of Southern Africa.

The ANC has a strong constituency and political base in Swaziland and the Swazi monarchy also maintains a powerful constituency within the ranks of the ANC. This bond cannot be wished away.

If this bond disintegrates, both comrades will be weakened. The ANC–led government has a right to bail out Swaziland from this economic crisis, in spite of criticisms from other political actors, in the interests of regional security and stability.

I hope most Swazis will continue to cherish this profound bond, even by future generations. It will remain a special alliance between the two entities and will grow from strength to strength in history.

HHawu! Nxumalo we all nkow about the strong bond between ANC and SWAZILAND but what does that mean? It means Swaziland should just operate like theres no tomorow, allowing coruption to be so high just because of the strong bond with ANC? Nxumalo dont be defensive but be fair!.
Jul 25, 2011, 1:57 PM, NISO (mandlazisiboniso@yahoo.com)

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