As the sunsets and most children settle into the comfort of their homes for the evening, a growing number of young Emaswati are only beginning their shift.
The children set out into the hustling and bustling Manzini, selling socks, clippers and small household items on the streets to help support their families.
This is not only happening in Manzini alone; an increasing number of children are being sent by their parents to sell goods such as vegetables and fruits in the evening in Mbabane, raising concerns about the enforcement of child labour laws in the country. Despite the existence of legal frameworks aimed at protecting children, reports indicate that significant gaps remain in enforcement.
Survival on the streets
When asked why they were out so late, one child shared that they had been sent by their mother. Their mother, who was also in town, confirmed the account. Speaking on condition of anonymity, she explained that selling vegetables was her only means of survival. Leaving her children at home was not an option, she said, because doing so would also breach the law. She does not have a permit to sell in town, and operating in daylight would attract municipal foot guards.
“I have no one to leave them with and I need to provide for my family,” she said.
Meanwhile, it is a daily reality for a 14-year-old boy, who was found near the Manzini Lifestyle Centre at around 7pm, carefully arranging his goods under the glow of the streetlights.
He said he lived with his mother and elder brother at KaKhoza, a community on the outskirts of Manzini. His mother, he added, works at a textile factory in Matsapha and earns a minimal wage that barely covers their household’s basic needs.
“We come here after school, around 4pm,” he said, gesturing to a small bag at his feet filled with socks and clippers. “My brother and I take different corners of the town and sell until just before 8pm, when we catch the last bus home.”
The money they make is used to buy essentials such as bus fare, bread and sometimes food for supper, while their mother’s income is reserved for bigger needs like school uniforms and medical expenses.
Across Manzini and surrounding towns, more children are seen selling small goods, particularly during weekends and holidays, as households struggle to make ends meet.
Statistics paint a grim picture
According to UNICEF and recent government data, around 70% of Eswatini’s children live in poverty — higher than the 59% national average. Nearly half (46.6%) are deprived in three or more dimensions of well-being, including food, shelter and education.
An estimated 11.7% of children aged five to 14 are engaged in work, while 13% combine both school and labour, according to a child labour report by the US Department of Labour.
Although school enrolment remains high, only 74% of pupils who begin Grade I make it to Grade VII. Dropouts are often linked to fatigue, hunger and financial stress.
Community leaders and child welfare organisations have raised concerns about the safety, education and well-being of these children.
“These are not street children. They are school children from working-class homes,” said one Manzini-based social worker. “They are doing this out of necessity, not neglect.”
Rights advocates warn that children should not be forced to choose between rest and survival.
Enforcement challenges
The Employment Act of 1980 prohibits the employment of children under the age of 15 in industrial work and restricts non-industrial labour, including night shifts and excessive hours.
The Children’s Protection and Welfare Act of 2012 further reinforces these protections, yet enforcement remains inconsistent.
Economic hardship continues to push children into work, despite the risks and laws.
Young boy’s street sales put food on table
Not far from the crowded pavements of President Centre in Manzini, a 13-year-old boy is often seen clutching a small plastic container filled with sweets.
The boy, who attends a nearby school, sells sweets after class and gives all the money to his mother to support the family.
“Some people feel sorry for me and give me money. Others just walk past like I am not there. But I don’t stop. I just continue,” he shared.
Despite the struggle, he dreams of becoming a businessman one day.
This gives me sleepless nights – DPM
Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla has described the rise of child vendors as a deeply troubling issue that “gives her sleepless nights.”
She said her office has traced the backgrounds of some of these children and found that most are not orphans but come from low-income households, mainly relying on textile factory wages.
“The law is against this practice. It exposes underage children to dangers such as sodomy, rape and trafficking,” she said.
Dladla stressed that parents should bear the burden, not children.
“It would rather be the parents in the streets than the children,” she emphasised.
She further called for rural development and better roads to encourage factory investments outside urban centres, which could reduce reliance on child labour.
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