The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) notes the reported arrest and torture of two members of the Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS) following a SWAYOCO (Swaziland Youth Congress) Rally on Friday, 19 April 2013, at Msunduza, in the capital Mbabane, Swaziland.

These two comrades have not been charged with any offence, although the statutory 48 hours limit has passed within which they are supposed to have been charged, or released. The comrades have been interrogated at the Police Head Quarters in Mbabane, where the Communist Party of Swaziland believes they have been tortured there by the Swaziland Special Force political police who captured them.

The two comrades are:

• Comrades Mfanawenkhosi ‘BOER’ Mntshali, a long-time member of PUDEMO and SWAYOCO, currently a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS)
• Comrade Derrick Nkambule, also a member of PUDEMO, currently serving as the Campaigns Officer in the Peasant Commission on the Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS)

SADTU demands the release of these two men at once. SADTU hopes that if they are not promptly released, then strong concerted protest action by South African masses and their organisations, including by our sister affiliates of COSATU, co-ordinated by our federation, will follow.

Issued by: SADTU Secretariat