Measures by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation at the SA High Commission in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos, Nigeria to ensure that the on-going inquest and any further investigations into the church building collapse on 12 September 2014 will be conducted without fear, favour or interference
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NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO: 325 (NO2671E)
PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO: 7-2014 OF 5 NOVEMBER 2014
Mr S Makgalapa (DA) to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation:
(1) What measures have her department’s officials both at the SA High Commission in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos in Nigeria undertaken to ensure that the on-going inquest and any further investigations into the church building collapse on 12 September 2014 will be conducted without fear, favour or interference? NO2671E
REPLY:
(1) South Africa has continuously engaged with the relevant Federal and State authorities in Nigeria, through our High Commissioner and Consul-General, as well as with the High Commissioner of Nigeria to South Africa in order to get clarity on the inquest to be undertaken by the Coroner.
The inquest falls under the jurisdiction of the Nigerian judicial system and South Africa respects the independence of the Nigerian judicial system. However, the South African Government will follow the inquest process very closely following a request from the Coroner for South Africa to participate in the inquest. It is worth mentioning that South Africa’s participation or non-participation will be dependent on the legal advice from South African State Law Advisers.
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