A dark cloud hangs over the Annual reed dance set to take place in Swaziland on Monday, following the deaths of up to 38 swazi maidens.
According to eyewitness reports about 50 girls were packed into trucks on their way to the reed dance, when one truck struck a car that police escorts directed to the roadside.
A second fully-loaded truck then slammed into the first one.
The Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN), a Pretoria-based pro-democracy group, said the death toll was likely to rise and claimed Swazi officials were discouraging media coverage.
The newspaper hinted at casualties but provided no death figure, while the Times of Swaziland reported seven deaths. On Saturday at least 38 fatalities were reported but without official confirmation.
Human rights activists called for the cancellation of the reed dance.
Government claims that 80,000 maidens will dance before King Mswati on Monday. Some of the girls may hope to be chosen as the polygamous king’s 15th wife. Mswati chose one of the teenagers as a bride last year.
President Jacob Zuma conveyed a message of condolences to King Mswati the 3rd and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
Picture: Pinterest
