Swaziland October 2006 |
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| Tears as SA bars pupils, (Times of Swaziland, 2006-10-15):-More than 500 Swazis who attend school in South Africa have been barred from crossing over to South Africa—unless they produce study permits or travel documents. This move has already paralysed the dreams of a number of Swazis who live at Esivule in the far rustic countryside and surrounding areas as they were barred from crossing the fence separating Swaziland and South Africa to write their end of the year final Matric Geography examination paper that was written on Thursday morning. Crossing over to South Africa without permits or travel documents has been the norm for years in this tiny community and this arrangement was largely due to a healthy understanding between these two countries. However, it was a different situation on Thursday as pupils begged and literally cried to armed South African soldiers to allow them entry so that they could write their end of year Geography examination paper but in vain. The armed-to-the-teeth soldiers would not budge as they told them that an order was an order. Most of the people in Esivule past Hluthi use South Africa for most of life’s basic commodities like school, shops, church and water supply. It is hard describing the pain that these people are going through—especially those who could not write their final examination because there was an ‘over night’ decision to block all Swazis and South Africans alike from crossing to either of the two countries. When the Times SUNDAY news team visited the informal border earlier in the week, two SA soldiers were found manning the fence—in no mood for excuses. They explained that they have been given an order not to allow this informal crossing to their country. Most of the Swazi pupils attend school at Mpindiso High, Sozama High, Dingukwazi High, S’gcamza High, Mlomokazulu High as well as Gcegcesha Primary and Sivule Primary. Some of the pupils stay at Hhuhhuma, Galile, Mantambe, Mabona and they rely on kombis to ferry them to the spot where there is an informal gate used to cross over to South Africa. The two South African soldiers, Ratlou and Modensela said even though they may have sympathy for the pupils who are writing their examinations they cannot sneak people into South Africa because their superiors were closely monitoring them. On Thursday Swazi soldiers tried in vain to negotiate that at least those who were writing their examination be allowed to cross over but their South African counterparts did not entertain their requests. Some of the pupils who are doing Grade 10 (the equivalent of Form III) will commence their examination tomorrow and are nursing hopes that both countries will resolve the matter in time to allow them to write their examination. The South African High Commissioner to Swaziland could not be reached for comments at the time of compiling this report as his mobile phone was not available on the network when called. The Minister of education, Constance Simelane as well as her Principal Secretary Goodman Kunene could not be reached for comments as their phones went unanswered each time they were called. | |
South African Migration Project (SAMP) - Queen's University - http://www.queensu.ca/samp |