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INTERNATIONALISM training areas in the Frontline States. UNDERGROUND operations IN THE MK’s command structure sat in Lusaka, Zambia, with regional structures in the Frontline States and clearly defined © Shutterstock.co.za FRONTLINE states operational structures in the “Forward Areas” that were linked to operations inside South Africa. In 1985 Swaziland was in the The role of African frontline of the battle against the Apartheid South African regime. The battle against Apartheid was a battle of Internationalists life and death which claimed lives and limbs, destroyed homes and families in South Africa and in the neighbouring states or Frontline States as they were called. Swaziland was one of the Frontline States, a “forward area.” It is one of Africa’s smallest countries, a former British protectorate and one of the remaining monarchies in Africa. A country with some of the oldest mountains in the world endowed with breath-taking beauty ranging from misty mountains to hot brush-covered lowveld plains. A country with few natural resources, a relatively small population; and trapped between South Africa and Mozambique. In 1985 Swaziland was nominally ruled by the Queen Mother and driven by a council of men who seemed to The Swazi internationalists, if we wish to use have moved away from the late King Sobhuza’s attempt to steer a middle that term, were the water in which the MK road between the demands of the resource-rich apartheid South Africa swam like fish. We were at home. They, for and the wider African nationalist agenda of the rest of Africa. The move all intent and purposes, were our comrades. away from Sobhuza’s middle road was Some died fighting together with us. Others towards the Pretoria government’s objectives and enabled greater lost their possessions or suffered sanction from collaboration between the South African security forces and elements of the conservative Swazi government system. the Swazi security establishment. In the mid-1980s the apartheid government was reaping the By Damian de Lange benefits of its Nkomati Accord with Mozambique. The agreement saw the wenty years into democracy longer and much more difficult. Mozambican government move most in South Africa and most of us Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the armed of the liberation army guerrillas out probably no longer cast our wing of the ANC, was a volunteer army of Mozambique which effectively cut T the support for military and political minds back to the days when the and not all ANC members volunteered Apartheid Regime hunted down its to be members of MK. MK was formed operations through Swaziland into opponents like dogs in the veld. Among in 1961 and began as a sabotage and the central and eastern parts of South the hunted were those who chose to armed propaganda military force. By Africa. support and serve as comrades-in-arms the 1980s MK had grown to become The apartheid government made – these were the internationalists a more organised and commanded great use of the tactical space for without whom the South African road force with several formal military manoeuvre they had created through to liberation would have been much training camps in Angola and informal the Nkomati Accord, increasing their Volume 58 / 2013 45 INTERNATIONALISM operations into Swaziland to hunt moving and constantly working. South Africa uses today these Swazis down, kill and capture members of the I had never been to Swaziland were “Black”, “Coloured” and African National Congress, its soldiers before and through work and everyday “White”. Some were from the middle of MK and any supporters. With life I got to see the country's beauty and class or even the more wealthy class. their hallmark arrogance the Pretoria I got to meet and know many Swazi Others were tradespeople, students regime trampled on international nationals. And, I got to work with Swazi and lecturers. And some were ordinary norms, raiding homes at will and killing nationals who supported our cause, people who tended their cattle and anyone they believed to be an “enemy lived with our hopes and dreams, and fowl in rural areas. The Swazis who of the state” knowing that the west often sacrificed much to provide us supported the ANC cause in Swaziland would issue a statement of “concern” with support, friendship, love and, in a were ordinary people who had families at best. way, a glimpse of a normal life. and homes, who wished for a better This was the Swaziland I travelled to Through the political teachings in education for their children or greater in late 1985. Deployed as a soldier of the camps of Angola I had learnt about chances in the economic life of Umkhonto we Sizwe, or MK as it was “internationalists” who were people Swaziland or the region. more fondly known, I would work in not of your country who were prepared Some of the “Black” Swazis Swaziland for a little over a year. This to fight for your cause out of principle had worked in South Africa and was a very short time compared to and conviction. In Angola I met Finns, experienced the naked racial brutality others who worked in similar areas and Brits and Portuguese who had found of the apartheid system. Some of compared to the nationals who called their homes in Angola supporting the the “Coloureds” were descendants’ Swaziland home and provided support liberation movement. They supported of mixed marriages between Swazis for the ANC and MK. the liberation movement through and former colonialists. Some of the During my short time in Swaziland their understanding and opposition to “Whites” were the descendants of countless cross-border raids were colonialism and the ills of tribalism and Europeans or “White” South Africans conducted by Pretoria. MK members racism that colonialism brings. who had settled in Swaziland and were killed and captured to be taken There were the Russians and Cubans made it their home. back across the border to be tortured and East Germans in Angola who were A further addition in Swaziland and if lucky to be put on trial and regarded as doing “internationalist were the South Africans – “Black”, jailed. Houses that the Boers believed duty”. And, in Tanzania there were “Coloured” and “White” who had were being used by the AC or MK or Brits, Swedes, Danes, Dutch, Irish fled South Africa for political, social supporters were raided and destroyed. and Finns who worked alongside and or economic reasons. These South Often the wrong houses were raided together with ANC members and Africans often provided a bridge or and innocent people, generally Swazis, these people were also regarded as connection with Swazis and life in were killed or maimed or captured. “internationalists”. Swaziland. When working “underground” In Angola and Tanzania the local It would not be true to argue that MK operatives often had a “legend”. ANC leadership would regularly all Swazis – of whatever shade or The “legend” was a created life story go to great lengths to praise the colour – supported the ANC or the that was to enable the person to internationalists and call on us to anti-apartheid cause. Many Swazis present themselves as someone who emulate the kind of sacrifice they had – “Black”, “Coloured” and “White” – had a history and a reason for being made. I am sure that from time to time saw the ANC and MK as a problem and where they were. The “legend” was the same local leadership also offered some actively worked against the ANC a critical part of the camouflage of an thanks to the nationals of the country and worked with the security forces of underground operative. where we were living but had it not the Pretoria regime. Life for me was a weird been for the time I spent in Swaziland Some Swazis became so notorious contradiction. I was “Mike Lang”, a I would probably remain with the in their drive to do the dirty work of Zambian national working legally as perception that “internationalists” Pretoria that some of us wanted to carry a free-lance photographer and at the (other than the Cubans) were out acts of retribution against them. same time participating in technically Europeans and white in colour. The same can be said of the “White” illegal military operations. This meant In Swaziland I learnt to work, and Rhodesians who had fled a liberated long hours working during the day and live, with Swazis who saw themselves as Zimbabwe and settled in Swaziland. then again at night. Our 'underground' Swazis, were proud of their nationality, This group of people were known for work involved moving people and at times apologetic for the undemocratic their open support for Pretoria and were equipment to the border with South system in Swaziland and committed to unashamedly racist. We had identified Africa, meeting people from South the liberation struggle of South Africans some of their houses as “safe houses” Africa who brought news, or important out of a deep understanding about the of the South African security forces information or who had come out unfairness of apartheid and possibly out and wanted to carry out our own form to collect material for operations in of a hope that freedom in South Africa of pre-emptive strike. It was only the South Africa. We slept armed. I was might bring about a better life for Swazis clear thinking of our commanders and often scared and fear became a kind in future. political direction that forced us to focus of speed that kept me going, constantly Using the terminology democratic on what we were in Swaziland to do: 46 THE THINKER INTERNATIONALISM support operations inside South Africa.

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