Zuko Komisa

- South Africa’s government is concerned that the US is deporting criminals to neighbouring Eswatini.
- The criminals are convicted of serious crimes, including murder.
- Eswatini’s government has said it’s working with the International Organisation for Migration to return the individuals to their home countries.
The South African government has expressed serious concerns over the United States’ decision to deport convicted foreign criminals to neighbouring Eswatini, warning of a potential threat to South Africa’s national security.
The move, which has been widely criticised as the US using African nations as a “dumping ground” for undesirable individuals, has seen at least five inmates from the US penal system transferred to Eswatini.
The US Department of Homeland Security has confirmed that the individuals were convicted of severe crimes, including child rape and murder.
While the exact nature of the agreement between the US and Eswatini remains unclear, it has sparked widespread speculation.
With US President Donald Trump imposing new trade tariffs on African nations, some believe Eswatini’s government agreed to accept the prisoners to curry favour with the administration.
Chrispin Phiri, a spokesperson for international relations, stated that while South Africa respects Eswatini’s sovereignty, it is “deeply concerned about the profile of these individuals and the potential adverse impact on South Africa’s national security and immigration policy, given the geographical proximity of the two sisterly countries.”
The convicts’ home nations – Jamaica, Laos, Cuba, Yemen, and Vietnam – reportedly refused to accept them, leading the US to seek an alternative solution as part of President Trump’s mission to deport foreign nationals.
In response, Eswatini government spokesperson Thabile Mdluli confirmed that the plan is to work with the International Organisation for Migration to facilitate the inmates’ return to their native countries.
Point of View with Phemelo Motene unpacks this diplomatic bombshell with The Nation Magazine Editor, Bheki Makhubu.
Listen to the full conversation here:
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