MBABANE: Superintendent Phindile Valakati, the eSwatini Police Spokesperson said all people are expected to remove a hat within the boarder gates for identification purposes.
Responding to questions from this Swaziland News on why the police ordered Mbongwa Dlamini, the President of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers(SNAT) to remove his cap at the border, the police Spokesperson cited the Passport Act of 1971 and immigration standards prescribed by the International Civil Aviation Organization.
“Every person is instructed to remove hat for identification and comparison with passport. The ICAO(International Civil Aviation Organization prescribe the immigration standards” she said.
The SNAT President, in an earlier interview with this publication while at the Sandlane Border Gate alleged that the police detained him for wearing a cap in front of King Mswati’s picture. It is regarded as disrespect in terms of the eSwatini Customary Law to wear a hat in front of the King or his picture.
“When I asked why should I remove it, they showed me the picture of the King on the wall saying that was the reason I should remove my cap. They did the same thing in the morning on my way to South Africa and harassed me and now they are detaining me. As we speak, they are refusing depriving me to have my passport stamped because of that” he said.
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