THE ROW over South Africa’s financial aid to Swaziland has escalated, with the National Union of Metalworkers calling for the withdrawal or suspension of the R2.4 billion loan.
Numsa spokesman Castro Ngobese said yesterday that the bailout for King Mswati was “a direct assault on our solidarity efforts to free and liberate the people of Swaziland from this hyena’s tyranny”.
The loan has conditions attached, including that Swaziland implement fiscal and other reforms required by the International Monetary Fund.
Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s assurance that the Swazi government would be forced into “confidence-building measures”, guided by an agreement that promoted democracy, human rights and the rule of law, failed to satisfy Cosatu and its affiliates.
Ngobese said Numsa wanted the government to withdraw the loan until Mswati introduced democratic reforms, including the unbanning of political parties, the release of political prisoners and a commitment to free and fair elections.
The Swaziland Soldarity Network said the loan conditions were “vague and empty but nice-sounding words”.
Gordhan had been “very clear” on the repayment of the loan, said spokesman Lucky Lukhele, but everything else was “hot air”.
- Cape Argus
Numsa spokesman Castro Ngobese said yesterday that the bailout for King Mswati was “a direct assault on our solidarity efforts to free and liberate the people of Swaziland from this hyena’s tyranny”.
The loan has conditions attached, including that Swaziland implement fiscal and other reforms required by the International Monetary Fund.
Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s assurance that the Swazi government would be forced into “confidence-building measures”, guided by an agreement that promoted democracy, human rights and the rule of law, failed to satisfy Cosatu and its affiliates.
Ngobese said Numsa wanted the government to withdraw the loan until Mswati introduced democratic reforms, including the unbanning of political parties, the release of political prisoners and a commitment to free and fair elections.
The Swaziland Soldarity Network said the loan conditions were “vague and empty but nice-sounding words”.
Gordhan had been “very clear” on the repayment of the loan, said spokesman Lucky Lukhele, but everything else was “hot air”.
- Cape Argus
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