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Swaziland: Government driver in court after fatal crash kills 38

A SWAZILAND government driver appeared in court at the weekend after scores of young women and girls were killed in a road accident.

The unnamed 46-year-old was transporting the women to the annual reed dance, where virgins repair the fences at the royal residence with reeds — considered a tribute to the Queen Mother — before dancing for King Mswati III, who often picks one to marry. He currently has 15 wives.

The women were travelling by flatbed lorry — itself illegal, according to the Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN), which says that 65 people were killed in the crash.

The lorry is believed to have hit another vehicle, sending the passengers flying across the road.

SSN spokesman Lucky Lukhele said: “This is not the first incident where young girls have been injured on royal assignments.

“The least that the royal family can do is to cancel this year’s reed dance and admit its responsibility in this horrific accident by helping these families bury their children.”

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