PUDEMO UPDATE ON ACTIVIST KILLING

The following is a release from the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) updating news on the killing of democracy activist Sipho Jele.

In the past week some notable developments came up:

As PUDEMO, we have been able to secure legal assistance for Cde Jele’s family. This was meant to give them the necessary confidence and protection from being confused and harassed by the state’s security agents. Now the family is able to speak as well as make their demands through their lawyer.

The lawyer has successfully facilitated the process of enabling the family to view/identify the comrade’s body. This was done on Saturday afternoon.

The lawyer has also facilitated the process of soliciting an independent pathologist to conduct an independent autopsy on the body. Once the autopsy has been done, the family will be in a better position to announce the date for the funeral. And we hope the state will not play dirty tricks and frustrate this process since the pathologist shall come from outside the borders of Swaziland as per the wishes of the family. The date for the autopsy has not been confirmed.

The labour movement in Swaziland in the form of Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions and the Swaziland National Association of Teachers are planning a protest march next week to the Prime Minister’s office to protest against the brutal death of Comrade Jele while in police custody and the general human rights abuse by the state’s security agents. Other civic organizations, stakeholders and the general public will be mobilized to join the protest action.

Head of Publicity

Manzini

Swaziland