Swaziland has deported several foreigners wanting to participate in a pro-democracy protest, the National Union of Metalworkers said yesterday.

"We were deported on the basis that we entered the country illegally and we want to disrupt peace," Numsa deputy president Christine Olivier told a press conference in Johannesburg.

They were rounded up on Tuesday while meeting to be briefed on a march.

Olivier said a delegation of 33 members, six from Numsa and 27 from the SA Municipal Workers' Union, went to Swaziland for the pro-democracy campaign.

"Two of our members were assaulted on Tuesday evening, while being taken to the border," Olivier said.

Samwu spokesman Stephen Faulker said they were taken to the border under heavy police and military guard.

Civil society organisations have joined hands to form the Swaziland Democracy Front. The group launched the Swaziland democracy campaign to push for trade and human rights to coincide with the country's independence anniversary, and to put pressure on King Mswati III to stop his alleged repression of human rights, harassment and jailing of pro-democracy activists.

"There cannot be labour rights without political freedom," Cosatu's international secretary Bongani Masuku said.