This is the last article you can read this month
You can read more article this month
You can read more articles this month
Sorry your limit is up for this month
Reset on:
Please help support the Morning Star by subscribing here
Thirty armed Swazi police officers blocked pro-democracy campaigners from entering court on Monday during the trials of two activists.
Human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko and The Nation magazine editor Bheki Makhubu asked Judge Mpendulo Simelane to recuse himself from proceedings after calling him and the chief justice as witnesses in their contempt case.
They are accused of showing contempt of court by “publishing malicious contemptuous statements” about King Mswati III, Africa’s last absolute monarch.
Black beret-clad members of democracy group Pudemo set up camp outside the high court gates, chanting political slogans and dancing the toyi-toyi during the six-hour hearing.
Activists were told that there was not enough room in the court for a massive audience, even though a bigger courtroom was available in the building.
The two defendants also had their bail applications rejected, meaning they’ll add to their 25 days already in jail before the trial reopens on Tuesday.
