Five officials will travel to Eswatini this week for talks with King Mswati III, said Ramaphosa, who is also the current chairman of the Southern African Development Community Organ on Defence, Politics and Security Cooperation.

Eswatini earlier this week shut down schools indefinitely as pro-democracy protests intensified. The unrest comes four months after security forces cracked down on similar demonstrations in the kingdom.

The pro-democracy protests have escalated in recent weeks with pupils and public-transport workers joining the calls for change. King Mswati, 53, who’s ruled the South African neighbor for more than 35 years, has dismissed the demands, while rights groups have accused his security forces of abuses, including killings and beatings.

By S’thembile Cele
Oct 21, 2021, 9:07 AM
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