Question NW480 to the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation

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08 March 2019 - NW480

Profile picture: Mashabela, Ms N

Mashabela, Ms N to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation

(1)Whether her department has been kept informed of the investigation of the murder and attempted murder of Mr Patrick Karegeya and Mr Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa in Gauteng allegedly at the hands of the Rwandan government in clear violation of the Republic’s sovereignty and rule of law; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether her department is (a) aware of the individuals who were involved in the specified murder and attempted murder and (b) working on declaring the persons involved persona non grata in the event that they are diplomats; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

(1) Yes, Honourable Member, we have been kept informed of the investigation on the death of Col Patrick Karegeya who was found dead in a hotel room at Michelangelo Towers in Sandton on 31 December 2013. The National Prosecuting Authority and the Hawks are handling the matter to the extent that the case was recently submitted to the magistrate for an inquest.

(2) The Honourable Member would recall that on 6 March 2014 following the attempted assassination of Gen. Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa, our Government declared three Rwandan diplomats and one Burundian diplomat persona non grata and expelled them from South Africa, for illegal activities inconsistent with their diplomatic work which was in violation of Article 41 of the Vienna Convention and Article 9 of the Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges Act. Our Government took that decision based on evidence from our security agencies pointing to the involvement of these diplomats in illegal activities.

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