5 days ago
Concern over US 'dumping' dangerous criminals in Eswatini
Immigration expert Prof Loren Landau of Wits University agreed with Phage that South Africa should be concerned.
'On moral and practical grounds, South Africa should be unsettled by this move. It is a further effort to make Africa a source of raw materials, cheap labour and 'waste processing' for the US,' he said.
'While it may have little effect on South Africa in the short term, it also further allies Eswatini with the increasingly authoritarian US president. This will have implications for democracy, human rights, and the region's solidarity.'
Sowetan approached the department of international relations & co-operation to enquire if South Africa is concerned about the possibility of some of these individuals entering the country.
'Our state authorities such as the Border Management Authority have embarked on significant reforms to safeguard our borders and citizens,' said spokesperson Chrispin Phiri.
On Thursday the Swaziland Solidarity Network released a statement condemning the US decision to 'dump' the five men in their country.
'According to the US department of homeland security, these are convicted murderers, rapists and gang members and they must be removed so that 'they can never hurt another American victim'. By implication, this means they must now hurt Swazis,' said spokesperson Mfanafuthi Tsela.
'This is a deliberate act of collusion by two corrupt governments to dump America's most violent criminals in one of the world's poorest nations.'
