We hope this letter finds you well. It is not our first time writing to you. We have written to you before, appealing to you to act according to your often trumpeted values of democracy and justice.

For reasons not clear to us, you chose to ignore our polite appeal. We are no longer going to appeal to you, but instead we will hold you accountable.

As South Africa’s local elections approach, the Democratic Alliance has signalled its intention to scrap Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) in favour of an “inclusive development policy.” While we understand this message may appeal to certain voters, we are compelled to ask:

“How does the DA reconcile advocating to end BEE while the South African government is funding King Mswati’s extravagant lifestyle?”

In 2024, South Africa sent approximately E8 billion in development aid to Eswatini via SACU receipts. We hope you will not have a “Front Line Moment” and pretend to be unaware of this, as that would be very embarrassing.

According to Eswatini’s own financial statements, at least E6.2 billion of this went directly to the royal family: financing luxury travel, palaces, entourages, and personal indulgences. These figures come from the Kingdom’s official records, even if presented opaquely.

This is not a theoretical concern. South African taxpayers are subsidizing a dictator whose spending priorities undermine the welfare of ordinary citizens. Meanwhile, your party calls for ending BEE as though fairness and accountability apply domestically but not regionally.



We intend to make this information public. Grassroots organizations across South Africa will be informed that the GNU is financing repression abroad while ordinary citizens struggle at home.

The DA has an opportunity to take a principled stand: demand transparency, hold governments accountable, and ensure regional aid serves people, not monarchs. We urge your party to clarify its position before the electorate and act in line with the values you champion.