OVER 200 EMASWATI ARRESTED IN SA

HLANGANO – An undisclosed number of emaSwati have been arrested around Newcastle, South Africa (SA), for being in that country illegally.

It was gathered that the emaSwati are mostly the ones working in textile firms located at Newcastle. Unconfirmed figures suggest that there are over 200 emaSwati who were arrested.

Arrested

It was established that they were arrested for being in that country illegally and for working there without permits. It was gathered that the exercise started on Monday. When reached for comment, Amalgamated Trade Union of Swaziland (ATUSWA) Secretary General (SG) Wonder Mkhonza said they had been continuously saying that as long as government was happy with the number of unemployed people in the country, emaSwati would  be exploited elsewhere. He stated that there was no way the Government of South Africa would allow people who were unskilled to get permits. According to Mkhonza, the only solution was that government needed to create jobs, ones that were paying for the people not to go out of the country.

Textile

“Part of them left the country’s textile firms because of the low wages they get yet they have to put food on their families’ tables,” added Mkhonza.  
Meanwhile, South African Police Services (SAPS) Newcastle Communications Officer Lizzy Arumugans confirmed that there were people who were arrested for illegal immigration and working without permits. She did not, however, commit whether or not they were emaSwati as she only said they were from different countries. She requested to furnish this publication with detailed information today.

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