South African Government intention to negotiate or conclude Prisoner Transfer Agreements with any Countries

QUOTE

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NO: 16

PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO: 1 OF 10 FEBRUARY 2011

Mr J Selfe (DA) to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation:

Whether the Government intends to (a) negotiate or (b) conclude any prisoner transfer agreement with any country; if not, why not; if so, (i) with which country, (ii) when and (iii) what are the further relevant details?
 
REPLY:

(a) No. Government will not enter into Prisoner Transfer Agreements

(b) No. Government’s position is that South African citizens arrested abroad must serve their prison sentences in the country in which they were arrested.  Consular assistance is rendered in terms of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (VCCR), 1963 to South African citizens abroad who seek such assistance.  The Department will, in the case of terminal illness make representation to the respective government to pardon a South African citizen unconditionally.

UNQUOTE