PHUTI MOSOMANE
THE South African Communist Party has condemned the assassination of a leading pro-democracy activist and eSwatini human rights lawyer, Thulani Maseko.
Maseko, 52, was killed on Saturday at his home in KaLuhleko, near Mhlambanyatsi, in the Kingdom of eSwatini around 9pm while watching television with his wife.
He succumbed to three gunshot wounds.
In a statement, the SACP sent its message of condolences to Maseko’s family and reiterated “its unwavering solidarity with the people of Swaziland struggling for democracy, the release of political prisoners and those responsible for repression, including ordering and/or executing assassinations of political activists, to be held accountable.”
In 2014, Maseko was arrested and imprisoned for two years by the government.
Maseko’s troubles started when he got involved in representing those fighting for democracy in eSwatini.
Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) said his writings, mostly articles, spread awareness, and enlightened people about democracy and freedom.
”Adv. Maseko did not demobilise in response to the unjust imprisonment by the absolute monarch. He advanced and defended the human rights of the people of Swaziland, continuing the just struggle for democracy,” said SACP spokesperson Dr Alex Mashilo.
He was also a member of the Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) and the Southern African Human Rights Defenders Network.
Maseko was also the founder of the MultiStakeholder Forum (MSF), a coalition of opposition parties, associations and churches.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has also condemned the assassination of human rights lawyer and chairperson of the Multi-Stakeholder Forum.
”The killing occurs amidst the ongoing targeting of those who are calling for democracy, by the murderous monarch of Eswatini, Mswati Comrade Maseko was a courageous defender of democracy and a voice of reason for the defenceless people of eSwatini,” EFF said in a statement.
The party called on the South African government, the South African Development Community (SADC) region, and the rest of the Africa Union (AU) to condemn the crimes against humanity that are currently taking place in eSwatini.
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