Mbabane– The Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) secretary general, Lot Vilakati, has issued a statement addressed to the National Commissioner of Police, Manoma Masango, demanding immediate arrests in connection with the ongoing abduction and brutal killing of school-going children. Vilakati has warned that failure to act decisively by the police will force the union to march to the police headquarters to meet the Commissioner next week.
This follows the horrific discovery of Tifezile Dladla’s lifeless body at a homestead on the morning of May 28. According to SNAT, the repeated failure of law enforcement to apprehend the killers has pushed the education sector into a state of mourning and outrage.
In the statement issued by Vilakati, SNAT expressed its heartbreak and anger over the spate of violent crimes targeting children, describing them as “callous experiences” that have left both teachers and parents traumatised.
SNAT accused the government and police of dragging their feet in arresting those responsible for these crimes. “If these people were killing the Police, they would have been arrested by now,” the statement said. The union further criticised what it termed a “silo mentality” from top government officials, including the Office of the Prime Minister and his deputy, accusing them of ignoring the crisis in favour of foreign loan deals.
Union Calls Nation to Action
SNAT is now mobilising the country. The statement calls on parents, civil society organisations, NGOs, the Mass Democratic Movement (MDM), and all Swazi citizens to rise up and defend the nation’s children without hesitation. Human rights defenders and activists have also been urged to take to the streets in protest.
Among the key proposals is an immediate change to school operating hours. SNAT is calling on Minister of Education and Training, MP Owen Nxumalo, to shift school hours to 08:30–14:00 to reduce learners’ exposure to danger.
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