STATEMENT BY THE RT HON PRIME MINISTER
DR B.S.S.DLAMINI
AT THE PRESENTATION OF THE ANC CENTENARY TORCH TO THE KINGDOM OF SWAZILAND
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA
31 OCTOBER 2012
Your Excellency, the Gauteng Provincial Chairperson
The High Commissioner of the Kingdom of Swaziland to South Africa
Your Excellencies of the Diplomatic Corps
Distinguished guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
It is a great honour to be with you today on this very special occasion. I bring you all greetings, congratulations and best wishes from His Majesty King Mswati III, Her Majesty the Indlovukazi, His Majesty’s Government and the people of Swaziland.
One hundred years of life for an organization – especially one with such a significant place in the political history of a nation – is a time for much celebration. It is also of great significance that the Kingdom of Swaziland proudly receives this torch in recognition of the pivotal role the Kingdom played in helping our brothers and sisters in South Africa during a very challenging period.
Indeed, the principal medium through which the Kingdom of Swaziland gave assistance to the peoples of South Africa was the African National Congress (ANC). The relationship between ANC and Swaziland dates back to the formation in 1912 of the forerunner of the ANC itself - the South African Native National Congress (SANNC). The then Swazi Queen Regent, Her Majesty Queen Labotsibeni, and the then Crown Prince Sobhuza, who became King Sobhuza II in 1921, among other things, financed the Abantu Batho newspaper, a mouthpiece of the SANNC. Throughout the years, Swazis at different levels were involved in ANC activities until full democracy was attained in 1994.
As a general mechanism to combat apartheid, the Kingdom was also part of coordinated efforts through a diplomatic alliance known as the “Frontline States”, formed in 1970 to inform and advise on a coordinated policy with regard to both the apartheid government and the liberation movement. Although these States met with difficulty, owing to their economic ties to apartheid South Africa, they did succeed in forcing that regime to open dialogue with liberation leaders.
In a time that was fraught with great danger, there were many Swazis who actively participated in the pursuit of freedom for the South African people.
A great number of modern day leaders in the Republic, received at the very least, a part of their education in the Kingdom of Swaziland. Indeed, a great number still return often, to spend time with former classmates, and friends.
I wish, once again, to reiterate on behalf of their Majesties and the people of Swaziland, our heartfelt congratulations to the ANC for the milestone of 100 years of existence and we graciously receive the recognition extended to the people of eSwatini.
Thank You, Siyabonga.