ANTI-ILLEGAL immigration activist Nkosinathi ‘Phakelumthakathi’ Ndabandaba says he hopes the relationship between Emaswati and South Africans will last forever.
This was shared by Ndabandaba yesterday, as he was among the prominent figures who attended the main day of the Umhlanga Ceremony held at Ludzidzini Royal Residence.
He added that they share a relationship with Emaswati because the late King Goodwill Zwelithini married a Swati princess. He said King Misuzulu was also born in Eswatini, stating that he hopes Eswatini and South Africa will maintain the relationship they have.
He said when it comes to the March and March movement, they were asking that everyone entering South Africa should do so with proper documentation. He said people needed to respect other countries’ laws and show respect.
Ndabandaba said South Africa has laws that need to be upheld because once people get used to doing things illegally and not respecting the laws of South Africa, they then start selling drugs and raping people.
“The movement was not about hating people, but it was about asking for respect. Just like we are showing respect in South Africa, we are requesting the same in Eswatini. Most Emaswati have the necessary documents and most of them are going to South Africa to work. They are hard workers and you will never find a Liswati in South Africa selling drugs. We know the people we are targeting and they have signs and are not hidden,” he said.
He added that locals who visit South Africa should do the right thing and use the necessary documents.
Meanwhile, Ndabandaba appreciated His Majesty King Mswati III for encouraging girls in the country to keep their culture. He said Umhlanga encourages girls to remain pure and to conduct themselves respectfully.
He said girls as young as five years old were attending the Reed Dance, which he described as beautiful. He said they were happy to be part of Umhlanga as he was among those advocating for humanity and respect, which made it easy for him to attend the reed dance.
He said Umhlanga in Eswatini was different in that it was attended by many girls, while in South Africa only a few girls were attending. He said he hoped that women in South Africa would learn a few things from local women so that maidens in South Africa could also attend in large numbers.
Ndabandaba said this was because girls as young as five years old were attending the Reed Dance, which meant there would be less chance for the maidens to forget what they were taught at a young age when it comes to culture. He added that the festival had big numbers as many girls were attending. He said Emaswati and the Zulus have a long-standing relationship.
