Criminal Law News South Africa

Zim exiles threaten to take the Hawks to The Hague

Times Live reports that Johannesburg-based Zimbabwe Exile Forum have threatened to refer several members of the Hawks to the International Criminal Court in The Hague for crimes against humanity, if they are not brought to justice in South Africa.

Earlier this week, the Pretoria High Court ruled that the South African authorities were obliged to arrest Zimbabwean officials linked to torture when they visited South Africa. In response to the court's ruling, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa told parliament that an investigation into several Hawks officers was nearing completion.

Last October The Sunday Times alleged that South African officials were cooperating with the Zimbabwean authorities in abducting Zimbabweans in South Africa, including former Movement for Democratic Change organiser Gift Nhadzi and his wife, who were tortured after he was repatriated, and Witness Ndeya, who is alleged to have killed Zimbabwean police officers. Ndeya was returned to Zimbabwe along with two other citizens and murdered.

Zimbabwe Exile Forum chairman Gabriel Shumba told Times Live that there was an increase in the number of reports of intimidation by Zanu-PF supporters and Zimbabwe police agents operating in South Africa. This has led to the forum receiving requests from Zimbabweans for help in leaving South Africa, Shumba said, adding that the forum was currently processing 20 such requests and had already assisted two Zimbabweans to leave for the US and Canada.

Read the full article on www.timeslive.co.za.

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