We are okay right here in SA

YEBEKUNENE, we have heard from the grapevine that some of you in Eswatini want the process of taking back your land that is currently within South African territory speeded up. Yes, people talk.

As emaSwati living in South Africa, as citizens of the republic, we do not always have access to your newspapers. However, those who do, come back to tell us what is happening in the kingdom.

That is how we got to know of people like David Simelane, the social unrest (which fellow citizens in KwaZulu-Natal and Johannesburg quickly copied) and many other things happening there. We have heard that you guys still want the land that apparently used to belong to the then Swaziland to be returned to Eswatini.

You want the Border Determination Special Committee to start earning the millions it is being paid by being serious with achieving this elusive feat.

For 28 years, this team has allegedly failed to live up to expectations.

They have been chaired by different people and changed their name more than once, but still, they have not given you a positive response.

They still cannot boldly state when the land would be handed back to Eswatini.

Yes, we know they used to be known as the Border Adjustment Committee, as if they were going to simply adjust the boundaries.

Later, they were remodelled as the Border Restoration Committee (BRC) and now, we hear that they are known as the Border Determination Special Committee. Special…seriously? What will they be known as next?

Since you guys still have hope in this team, which has apparently been paid about E100 million in total since its inception back in 1996, we would like to plead with you to give them the following message.

OFF-CHANCE

We, as emaSwati who are citizens of South Africa, do not have a problem with you getting back your land. However, we want you and your border team to think long and hard about what is likely to happen on the off-chance you get the land back.

This land…nine bekunene, has fields, veldts, towns, cities, fields, schools, hospitals, game parks, shops and spazas.

What will happen if you get back your land? Have you thought about this?

We think your land was bare and barren.

It was mostly virgin land without much development.

Are you going to compensate our government for the improvements or you will argue that the South Africans were in the wrong and should just give you back what is yours without compensation?

For crying out loud, this land has people; us. We love being emaSwati.

We are proud of our culture and customs. Some of us even make it a point to attend cultural events like the Reed Dance on an annual basis.

We are proud emaSwati – very proud.

On Heritage day here in South Africa, we become showstoppers with our traditional attire and rhythmic dance moves. No other tribe does it better than us.

However, we are sorry to say that we would not really like to become citizens of Eswatini.

If the borders are adjusted, we will move to places that are still under SA.

Who would want to lose the E2 000 monthly elderly grant and downgrade to only E500? We would not want to lose out on the endless job opportunities here and be rendered jobless with our degrees. We have heard of a never-ending health crisis that side, kaGogo.

They say you guys go to government hospitals sick and come out still ill because there is no medication. If all this and other stuff we hear is true, please count us out.