Mbabane - King Mswati has said Swazis are being discriminated against in South Africa, despite Swati being one of that country’s official languages.
He was speaking to about 500 South African Swazi chiefs who met at his main palace at Lozitha at the weekend.
The chiefs also raised the question of land ownership, saying large sections of South Africa belonged to King Mswati.
The king appointed a border restoration committee more than a year ago to claim large sections of KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga that he says historically belong to Swazi kings.
The Swazi Observer quoted King Mswati as saying: “In South Africa there are 11 languages, with the 11th one being Swati, but I have constantly noticed that the recognition of Swazis in South Africa is minimal. Swazis should be very visible in that country because I know there are a lot of them.
“It is important that we see Swazis based in South Africa claiming their stake in that country by occupying top positions.”
The newspaper said: “His Majesty King Mswati III is worried about the lack of equal recognition for Swazis who are based in South Africa with that of other nations such as the Xhosas and Zulus.”
The report said the chiefs assured Mswati of their loyalty and described themselves as caretakers of Swazi territory in South Africa.
“The issue of the land is worrisome as we know very well which land belongs to Swazis, but is being hijacked by outsiders,” said a chief identified as Prince Zacharia from Pongola in KwaZulu-Natal.
“The South African government is all of a sudden recognising wrong chiefs, who are claiming Swazi land.”
Prince Zacharia said Zulu authorities were claiming Swazi land in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. “People are sowing a bad seed that will result in the king not having any land in South Africa,” he was quoted as saying.
A legal expert who is familiar with King Mswati’s claims to South African territory said: “Contrary to what the chiefs said, King Mswati does not have any land in South Africa.
“That land has been South African since the 19th century.
“The last official word from the South African government on the subject was two years ago from (then-home affairs minister and now AU Commission chairwoman) Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.
“She told Swaziland that it was AU protocol to observe borders drawn up during the colonial times.”
The legal expert, who asked not to be named, wondered if the South African chiefs knew that by calling for the displacement of sovereign South African territory they might be committing treason.
“It seems as if they are saying they are King Mswati’s subjects first and South Africans second.” - Independent Foreign Service
Cape Times