Punch reports that Dunstan Mlambo, Judge of Gauteng Division of the High
Court of South Africa, has given government seven days ultimatum to
file an affidavit on how and when President Omar al-Bashir left the
country. He said on Tuesday in Johannesburg that this opened the
possibility that the Minister of Home Affairs, Malusi Gigaba, and other
officials could be prosecuted for aiding al-Bashir’s departure. The
South African government said it would investigate
how Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, slipped out of
the country. Phumla Williams, acting Cabinet Spokesperson, said
government noted the judgment of the North Gauteng High Court on the
matter barring him from leaving the country. She said as indicated in
court, government would inquire the circumstances under which president
Al-Bashir left the country. Williams said that government would also
comply with the court order, relating to submission of an affidavit
outlining the circumstances. Meanwhile, the South African Litigation
Centre, 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. Stevens Mokgalapa, a
parliamentarian, and member of the Democratic Alliance, said that the
South African government had stooped to a “disgraceful and cynical new
low”. He said that it had demonstrated to the world that it did not
believe in justice for grave international crimes. Mokgalapa said that
the flouting of the law sets a disturbing precedent that the executive
was allowed to simply ignore the rulings of a High Court of South
Africa. “Wrong message has been sent out to the world by our president
and other leaders appearing all smiles and relaxed in the company of one
of the world’s most wanted men. “This is an indication that South
Africa does not believe in the rule of law and justice for grave
international crimes,” he said. 
No comments:
Post a Comment