MARIO, MPHANDLANA TURNED BACK AT BORDER

MBABANE – Imagine going through all the necessary immigration processes at the border hoping you will cross into South Africa (SA) only to be forcefully taken in the opposite direction.

This is the ordeal political activist Mphandlana Shongwe went through when he tried to cross into SA to participate in a protest which was held in Oshoek.
The protest was organised by a South African union known as the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU) which has a membership of over 235 000.

NEHAWU organised the protest in conjunction with the Communist Party of Swaziland.
The theme of the protest was ‘Release Amos Mbedzi’ but also included others believed to be political prisoners in Eswatini.
Mbedzi was found guilty of two counts of murder in the death of Musa ‘MJ’ Dlamini and South African, Jack Govender when a bomb exploded in the vehicle they were driving in at Lozitha overhead bridge.

Mbedzi, who was convicted of five charges, including sedition and murder, was sentenced to 85 years and six months in prison.
The sentence was broken down as follows; 25 years jail for the murder of ‘MJ’ Dlamini, another 25 years for the murder of Jack Govender, 20 years for attempted murder, 15 years for sedition and six months for making an unlawful entry into Swaziland.
Shongwe was with many others who were on their way to South Africa (SA) to participate in the march but he was abruptly stopped.

Stamped

He went through the immigration process, stamped his travel document and was issued with the ticket authoring the officers at the gate to him to exit.
He was, however, stopped in his tracks before he could even get there.
Sitting down in protest did not help him much as he was picked and put into the back of a police van which then brought him back to Mbabane where he was released and advised to return to Manzini.  

      
He was dropped of at the Mbabane Police Station. 
Speaking about the ordeal, Shongwe who made it known that he was livid at the treatment by the police, said the action was tantamount to abduction.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: