The deal is mainly aimed at helping South Africa export more coal .

The venture is not necessarily an effort to benefit the people of Swaziland.

Its main purpose is to ease congestion in Ermelo, help South Africa transport more coal and thereby enhance the much-anticipated Waterberg rail investment.

The fact that jobs will be created in Swaziland as a result of the project is a secondary issue.

South Africa is mainly interested in cutting its coal transportation costs.

South Africans will get richer and they will rejoice about the smooth rise of the country's economy.

But this improvement will come as a result of the exploitation of cheap labour in Swaziland.

On the other hand, such business in Swaziland can be exploited by the ANC to help the liberation movement in Swaziland.

The ANC should - and it can if there is any will - partner with the mass democratic movement in Swaziland to help in the fight for democracy.

This can be done through part of the profits that will be generated from the coal, or any other means.

It is a known fact that the ANC is an important ally of Pudemo, the main liberation movement in Swaziland.

This is probably the greatest test of whether the ANC is an ally of the oppressed people of Swaziland.