Jamaican immigrant returns to home country
MBABANE – The immigrant from Jamaica, who was brought into the country along with four others from the United States of America, has returned to his home country.
Through a press statement yesterday, government confirmed that one of the five immigrants, who entered Eswatini in July this year under the United States’ Third-Country Prisoners (TCP) Programme has voluntarily returned to his home country.
The immigrant, Orville Isaac Etoria, according to the statement, was repatriated on Sunday, September 21, 2025, at his own volition and without any compulsion. It was said that he has since safely arrived in Jamaica, where he was warmly welcomed by members of his family.
Meanwhile, government said engagements are ongoing with the remaining four immigrants, from Cuba, Laos, Vietnam and Yemen, with the aim of facilitating their repatriation to their respective countries.
Acting Government Spokesperson Thabile Mdluli expressed the assurance of government to the nation that further updates will be provided as and when new developments arise.
It is worth noting that the hosting of the five immigrants was made possible through a bilateral agreement between the Governments of Eswatini and the United States of America, reflecting the spirit of partnership and collaboration between the two countries.
Government expressed its profound appreciation to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), which provided vital support to ensure the smooth and seamless repatriation process. The Government of Jamaica was also commended for maintaining close communication throughout the process, working through its High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa. Additional gratitude was extended to the countries of transit that rendered the necessary assistance.
Previous reports in this publication highlighted that repatriation talks with the countries of the five convicted immigrants received from the United States of America were ongoing.
In an interview with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Pholile Shakantu, Eswatini assured a concerned neighbouring South Africa, fearing a regional security threat, that the immigrants will have a safe and dignified return to their home countries.
The minister was encouraged by the progress made regarding the talks.
The ministry indicated that the repatriation of the individuals posed no security risk to any other parties both within and outside the facilities in which they are currently housed as stringent security protocols had also been adopted.
The minister’s response follows correspondence received from the Republic of South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation regarding their discomfort with the transit of five third-party nationals from the US who are vcurrently kept at the country’s Correctional facilities. She said Eswatini had implemented comprehensive measures, including close collaboration with international organisations specialising in migrant protection.
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King’s pardon: 464 inmates to gain freedom today
MBABANE – Today, 464 inmates will regain their freedom and return to their respective homesteads following directive No.2 of 2025: Prerogative of Mercy of the King.
The inmates were granted their freedom following His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS) Day on June 20, 2025, where King Mswati III extended pardon to convicted prisoners in terms of Section 329 as read with sections 330, 331 and 332 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act No. 67/1938 (as amended).
In light of this, yesterday, HMCS Deputy Public Relations Officer (PRO) Assistant Chief Officer Baphelele Kunene, issued an official statement on the number of released inmates.
Kunene, through the correspondence, said: “HMCS wishes to inform the public that, pursuant to Directive No.2 of 2025 issued under the Prerogative of Mercy of His Majesty the King, a total of 464 inmates will be released from various Correctional institutions across the kingdom with effect from September 23, 2025. These are constituted by inmates with a remaining sentence of six months and below.”
From this number, Kunene said HMCS had engaged in an exercise to consult the communities in preparation for the release of the convicts.
The inmates will be coming from all 13 Correctional facilities, namely: Mbabane Correctional Centre, Pigg’s Peak Correctional Centre, Nhlangano Correctional Centre, Correctional Staff College, Matsapha Correctional Centre, Manzini Remand Centre, Malkerns Young Persons Centre, Criminal Mental Health Centre, Vulamasango School, Mawelawela Correctional Centre, Mankayane Correctional Centre, Big Bend Correctional Centre and Bhalekane Correctional Centre. He said in their exercise, they had oriented the communities on how they could assist in extending the rehabilitation programme through welcoming them and further assisting them to stabilise within society.
Kunene said they had engaged in an assessment exercise that will ensure that the communities and ex-convicts live side-by-side without prospects of segregation. He said: “We have four cadres offering developmental programmes namely; social work, psychological services, chaplaincy and education to offenders, officers and their immediate families. The counselling interventions are held on one-on-one sessions as well as group sessions where clients (inmates) are classified according to their offences, sentences, education or any other criterion that would make them interact smoothly.”
*Full article available in our publication.
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