Report of the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs on Petition of Royal Swazi Families, dated 17 September 2003:
The Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs, having considered a Petition of the Royal Swazi Families (Bantfwabenkhosi) and Swazi Chiefs/Nation presiding in Traditional Swazi Areas, praying for Parliament to urge and encourage the South African Government to expedite the final determination of a border issue, is of the view that it has no locus standi or authority to consider the issues raised by the petitioners.
The Committee wishes also to draw attention the 1964 Cairo Resolution, adopted by the Organisation of African Unity's Heads of State and Government meeting of that year. It is the opinion of the Committee that it would be preferable for the Executive to honour the letter and spirit of that resolution.
The Committee is further of the view that any consideration of the issues raised in the Petition must be preceded by transparent and full consultation of all South African citizens likely to be affected by it. While the Committee recognises the constitutional standing of traditional authorities, including the Swazi Royal Families, it recognises also that the constitutional rights to citizenship of South African citizens of Swazi ethnic origin take precedence.
In view of the above the Committee recommends that the petitioners be referred to the Executive, which has both the authority and the power to respond to the issues raised in the petition.