Swaziland police force schoolchildren back to classes after boycott supporting suspended teachers

Police were called when pupils at Mhubhe High School in Swaziland / eSwatini boycotted classes in support of two of their teachers who had been suspended from duty.
 

The pupils at the school in Ngulwini gathered around the school yard, singing and chanting for about four hours. The Times of Swaziland reported on Friday (24 May 2019), they were ‘demanding that the suspended teachers at the school be brought back to resume their duties’.

The two suspended teachers are Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) President Mbongwa Dlamini and John Hoffman, who is also a union activist.

SNAT has accused the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) of an attack on the union for suspending Dlamini who is accused of absenteeism from school.

SNAT said in a statement, , 'Chief amongst these charges is becoming a union leader and participating in legitimate trade union activities.’

There have been disturbances at the school in recent weeks after pupils demonstrated against some teachers who they said were sexually abusing them. Police fired rubber bullets and teargas at the pupils.

Six pupils were later charged with theft and destruction of property. They were denied bail and remanded in custody. An online petition organised by Swaziland Human Rights Network UK called for their release on bail. The pupils were later released on bail. 

Teachers boycotted classes for two days because they felt insulted to be accused of sexual misconduct. They returned to work on the instruction of MoET.

See also

Swaziland police fire rubber bullets at schoolchildren protesting sexual abuse by teacher

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2019/05/swaziland-police-fire-rubber-bullets-at.html

Swaziland teachers claim victimisation as govt hits union president with disciplinary charges

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2019/02/swaziland-teachers-claim-victimisation_5.html

 

Swaziland police shoot, wound teacher during protest over pay, tensions high on eve of national election

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2018/08/swaziland-police-shoot-and-wound.html

Swaziland police fire rubber bullets at schoolchildren protesting sexual abuse by teacher

Police fired rubber bullets and teargas at pupils at a school in Swaziland /eSwatini when they protested about sexual abuse on them by a teacher.

It happened at Mhubhe High School at Ngculwini, 15 km from the main commercial city of Manzini, the Times of Swaziland reported on Thursday (9 May 2019).

The newspaper said, ‘The pupils were protesting against one of their teachers, who occupies a senior position in the school, whom they accused of sexually abusing female pupils in the learning institution.’

The Times reported pupils damaged property at the school. The Times called it ‘Total mayhem!’ and added, ‘Rubber bullets and teargas canisters flew in the air.’

The Swazi Observer reported the school’s administration block was vandalised and set on fire. 

The school has been closed indefinitely.

The pupils were protesting against child sexual abuse, which is widespread in Swaziland. Swazi culture condones sex abuse of children, especially young girls. Child rapists often blame women for their action.

The State of the Swaziland Population report revealed that women who ‘sexually starve’ their husbands were blamed for the growing sexual abuse of children.

Men who were interviewed during the making of the report said they ‘salivate’ over children wearing skimpy clothes because their wives refused them sexual intercourse.

According to the Swaziland Action Group against Abuse (SWAGAA), one in three girls and women between ages 13 and 24 had been a victim of sexual violence. Although rape is legally defined as a crime, many men regarded it as a minor offense. 

‘The number of reported cases was likely far lower than the actual number of cases, as many cases were dealt with at the family level. A sense of shame and helplessness often inhibited women from reporting such crimes, particularly when incest was involved,’ SWAGAA reported.

In Swaziland rape is against the law but Swazi Law and Custom allows a husband to rape his wife. This is stated in the 317-page document The Indigenous Law and Custom of the Kingdom of Swaziland. 

See also

Swazi child rape is not unusual

http://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/swazi-child-rape-is-not-unusual.html
 

‘Investigate prince for child sex’

http://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/investigate-prince-for-child-sex.html 

‘Dad rapes daughter to test virginity’

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2018/05/dad-rapes-daughter-to-test-virginity.html

POLICE SHOOT AS CHILDREN PROTEST

Police in Swaziland fired live bullets and teargas as children protested against alleged corruption at their school.

It happened at Mhubhe High School in Ngculwini when police were called after school pupils boycotted classes.

Local media reported police were armed with rifles and pistols. Gun shots were fired at the pupils after police drove them away from the school, but they tried to return.

‘The pupils were not deterred by the warning shots fired in the air and police had to call for back-up  The police’s contingency plan seemed to work out as the back-up officers arrived armed with rifles and teargas canisters,’ the Times of Swaziland reported.

Pupils were protesting after a newspaper reported that funds at the school had been misappropriated.

The Times said police fired at the children after they threw stones at them.

A spokesperson for Swazi Police said they were investigating to see if any of the pupils could be charged with an offence.

See also

SWAZI GUN COPS ENDANGER CHILDREN

http://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/swazi-gun-cops-endanger-children.html