Hundreds block traffic in South African anti-monarchy protest

South African activists today tried to blockade the country’s borders with Swaziland to protest against the lack of democracy in the continent’s last absolute monarchy.

The Swaziland Solidarity Network said about 500 people, including trade unionists and Communist party members, had blocked traffic at the main crossing in the province of KwaZulu-Natal.

The protests were timed to coincide with the 33rd anniversary of the declaration of a state of emergency by the late King Sobuza II which has “allowed the royals to disregard the human rights and political freedoms of the people”, said one of the organisers of the demonstrations, Lucky Lukhele.