Chiefs and Bucs face Swazi backlash
Rights groups urge Soweto giants not to play in king’s cup
PREMIER Soccer League giants Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates face protest action by democracy campaigners in Swaziland as they prepare for a tournament in the kingdom.
The tournament, titled the Kings Cup, is organised by the Swazi government. It is scheduled for next month.
But the Swaziland People ’ s United Democratic Movement (Pudemo) and Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) have condemned the tournament ‚ saying the event will give credibility to a king who leads a government which is “murdering and incarcerating its own innocent citizens ”.
SSN spokesperson Lucky Lukhele said they would march on the Pirates offices in Parktown next Thursday, noting that both clubs had failed to reply to their letter imploring them to withdraw from the event.
“We are aware Irvin Khoza and Kaizer Motaung played a huge role during apartheid, supporting the anti-apartheid initiates. All we are saying is that it is not too late for them to withdraw from the tournament.” Lukhele made it clear they were not going to beg Khoza and Motaung, but wanted them to choose.
“They should not regard this is a threat. They must know the masses are very angry. ” Pudemo ’ s Brian Ntshangase said the event sought to put “a human face on a government that has made it its prime occupation to govern the people with fear and dispossession ”.
Chiefs communications manager Vina Maphosa said it was not a done deal that they would play in Swaziland.
“Yes, we got an invite and confirmed that we will participate ... but this is a process,” he said. “’I m waiting [for] a final approval from my administrator.”
Pirates administrative offi- cer Floyd Mbele said the club had no comment.
Ntshangase added that King Mswati III was “an individual who used fear and corruption to accumulate riches which he then use to further suppress freedom and curtail human rights ”.
“If the two Soweto soccer giants decide to partake in this tournament ‚ they would be walking into a pool of blood of innocent citizens and in partnering with murderers. ” – RDM News Wire Additional reporting by Mcelwa Nchabeleng