Sikhumbuzo Phakathi, the deputy president of banned opposition group the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), was arrested on the eve of the Global Day of Action for Swaziland democracy.
The Swaziland Democracy Campaign reports he was arrested around 20h30 yesterday night (6 September 2010) at the Phongola border post as the Swazi police and army were deporting the South African delegation comprised of COSATU and Swaziland Democracy Campaign activists. They had been interrogated by Swazi police and intelligence.
In a statement SDC said, ‘No amount of arrests and brutal suppression of political and trade union activities will break the profound resistance building up in the country.’
SDC said it is known that the treatment of detained activists in Swaziland is a harsh experience none would dare wish to go through.
‘This is worsened by the fact that recently; Sikhumbuzo’s rural home at Hluti was invaded and raided by the Swazi army and police in search of weapons, which in all probability was to build a case for his long planned arrest.’
SDC reaffirms that it will be holding a protest action tomorrow (8 September 2010) at the Johannesburg offices of the Swazi Consulate, Braampak behind Civic theatre, Braamfontein at 12h30.
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