Cape Town-The International Relations and Cooperation portfolio committee has resolved to call in Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane to update MPs on the events that led to Zimbabwean first lady Grace Mugabe leaving the country.
Source: Parliamentary committee to call in Nkoana-Mashabane over Grace Mugabe | News24 2017-08-23
International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane.
The committee held a workshop on Wednesday with department officials to discuss national issues on the agenda this term.
A letter written on Monday by Democratic Alliance MP Stevens Mokgalapa requesting the minister be summoned was added as an urgent item. Inkatha Freedom Party MP Mkhuleko Hlengwa had also written a similar letter on Monday.
The multi-party committee resolved unanimously at the workshop that Nkoana-Mashabane will appear, Mokgalapa told News24 on Wednesday.
In a statement on Wednesday, he said Nkoana-Mashabane had a case to answer in her decision to grant diplomatic immunity to Mugabe.
“The First Lady’s diplomatic immunity application was only made after assault allegations had been made against her by 20-year old South African, Gabriella Engels.
“The diplomatic immunity granted to Grace Mugabe is therefore highly irregular,” Mokgalapa said.
He said South Africa could not be treated as a “playground for international criminals”, and that international relations could not justify “trampling on the rights of people”.
He called on committee chairperson Siphosezwe Masango to ensure a date for the meeting was scheduled as soon as possible.
‘Minister acted in national interest‘
Nkoana-Mashabane on Sunday said she had “agonised” over her decision to grant Mugabe diplomatic immunity following claims she assaulted a South African model in Sandton last week.
Masango told News24 on Monday that Nkoana-Mashabane acted within the law according to his reading of section 7 of the Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges Act.
“The matter is quite straightforward… A minister, if there is an absence of agreement between two countries, can grant immunity to an organisation, an agency or a person.
“In this instance, she granted this to a person. The minister has also acted in the best national interests of the two countries.”
Section 7 of the Act says those are the requirements for the Dirco minister to grant an organisation, an agency or a person immunity, he said.
Mugabe was accused of beating Engels, a model, on August 13 at a Johannesburg hotel where her two sons were staying.
Engels said she sustained deep cuts to her forehead and the back of her head. She registered a case with the police the next day alleging assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.
Mugabe returned to her home country on Sunday morning.
COMMENTS
Its so sad that a foreigner can come to South Africa and assault a South African and no action was being taken because its DisGrace Mugabe, but thats what is happening in SA our government is protecting the foreigners and they don’t care a damn about South African citizens. There are so many foreigners in SA roaming the streets of every towns and cities having shops everywhere, I am just concerned that one day these foreigners are gonna drive us out of our beloved country at the expense of the ANC government I don’t know maybe they are giving them ID’s to vote for them
I find it so stupid to define crime by geographical boundaries. Assaulting someone is a crime whether it has been committed by a foreigner or South African. It still remains a crime. @Lunga you just hate foreigners and this is not an opportunity to show your colors. Grow up to know that the world is bigger than South Africa and everyone has a right to live anywhere under the sun as long as they follow proper procedures which sometimes are very unnecessary. You are afraid that you will be driven out to where?? You have lived with Boers, they are not foreigners, British came, they are not foreigners, now Indians control SA business, they are not foreigners, Chinese are all over they are not foreigners. Your foreigners are your fellow Africans. Shame on you.