Teacher union shocked Swazi King delaying schools open until fields weeded

The SA Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) was shocked by reports that Swazi King Mswati III had pushed back the beginning of the academic year by a week, the union said on Sunday.

"Sadtu is shocked by reports that King Mswati III has ordered the schools which were meant to reopen on the 20 January to remain closed and to reopen on the 27 January until his fields are weeded," general secretary Mugwena Maluleke said in a statement.

The Times of Swaziland reported that the schools would open a week later than expected due to "ongoing national events".

Sadtu said it wanted an end to child labour and for Mswati to provide free quality education to all pupils.

The union called on the Southern African Development Community to urge Swaziland to abide by international conventions on education.

"Sadtu is fully behind its sister union in Swaziland (Swaziland National Association of Teachers) in their ongoing struggle to ensure better working environment and conditions of service for teachers in the country."

According to the paper members of regiments participating in the ongoing weeding of royal fields, the regiments politicians, businessmen and school boys. For their work they stand to receive a certain token (imbasha) at the end of the weeding this is part a continuation of the Incwala national ceremony, which started around November last year.