PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
South Africa: Pretoria given seven days to account for Bashir debacle
Johannesburg, South Africa (PANA) - The South African government has said it will investigate how Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir slipped out of the country despite of a court order barring him from leaving the country.
"Government notes the judgment of the North Gauteng High Court on the matter. As indicated in court, government will enquire the circumstances under which President Bashir left the country. We will also comply with the court order relating to submission of an affidavit outlining these circumstances,'' said Acting Cabinet spokesperson Phumla Williams.
The South African Litigation Centre (SALC), which brought the urgent order for al-Bashir's arrest on Sunday, said there appeared to be a prima facie case that the order that he should not leave the country was violated.
Judge Dunstan Mlambo has given Pretoria seven days to file an affidavit saying when and through which exit point al-Bashir had left. This opens the possibility that the Minister of Home Affairs, Malusi Gigaba, and other officials could be prosecuted for aiding al-Bashir’s departure.
Democratic Alliance MP Stevens Mokgalapa said the South African government has stooped to a “disgraceful and cynical new low” and has demonstrated to the world that it does not believe in justice for grave international crimes.
“This flouting of the law sets a disturbing precedent that the executive is allowed to simply ignore the rulings of a High Court of South Africa. The message we have sent out to the world – not least by our President and other leaders appearing all smiles and relaxed in the company of one of the world’s most wanted men - is that South Africa does not believe in justice for grave international crimes,” he said.
-0- PANA CU/SEG 16June2015
"Government notes the judgment of the North Gauteng High Court on the matter. As indicated in court, government will enquire the circumstances under which President Bashir left the country. We will also comply with the court order relating to submission of an affidavit outlining these circumstances,'' said Acting Cabinet spokesperson Phumla Williams.
The South African Litigation Centre (SALC), which brought the urgent order for al-Bashir's arrest on Sunday, said there appeared to be a prima facie case that the order that he should not leave the country was violated.
Judge Dunstan Mlambo has given Pretoria seven days to file an affidavit saying when and through which exit point al-Bashir had left. This opens the possibility that the Minister of Home Affairs, Malusi Gigaba, and other officials could be prosecuted for aiding al-Bashir’s departure.
Democratic Alliance MP Stevens Mokgalapa said the South African government has stooped to a “disgraceful and cynical new low” and has demonstrated to the world that it does not believe in justice for grave international crimes.
“This flouting of the law sets a disturbing precedent that the executive is allowed to simply ignore the rulings of a High Court of South Africa. The message we have sent out to the world – not least by our President and other leaders appearing all smiles and relaxed in the company of one of the world’s most wanted men - is that South Africa does not believe in justice for grave international crimes,” he said.
-0- PANA CU/SEG 16June2015
