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Statement following Visit of a Team
of South African Officials to Equatorial Guinea
Following the arrest of South Africans suspected of
involvement in a coup plot against the President of
Equatorial Guinea, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
and the Minister of Justice of Equatorial Guinea visited
South Africa on 10 and 11 March 2004. During this visit,
the two Ministers briefed President Mbeki and Minister
of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma on the
matter and requested assistance in order to conduct
a fair and transparent trial.
Consequently, a team of officials from the South African
Police Services, the National Prosecuting Authority,
the South African Secret Services, the Departments of
Justice and Foreign Affairs travelled to Malabo to assess
the situation and the type of assistance required. The
team has made several recommendations on the nature
and form of South Africa's assistance in this regard.
These recommendations are aimed at assisting the authorities
in Malabo to conduct a just and fair trial.
The South African government firmly believes that by
engaging the government of Equatorial Guinea on this
matter it will make a small but positive contribution
to the justice system in Equatorial Guinea. Such a contribution
is, as a matter of course consistent with the values
and principles on which the South African justice system
is based.
In accordance with the Mutual Co-operation in Criminal
Matters Act (Act 75 of 1996) a team of investigators
from Equatorial Guinea will travel to South Africa shortly
to gather more evidence for the trial.
Also in keeping with its obligations to South African
citizens as provided for in the Vienna Convention on
Consular Relations the Government will continue to engage
the authorities of Equatorial Guinea with the objective
of ensuring that the South African prisoners are treated
in the spirit of this Convention. It was in this context
that the team of South African officials paid a visit
to the South African prisoners held in Malabo in connection
with the alleged coup plot. The South African Embassy
in Libreville, which is accredited to Equatorial Guinea
will continue to render consular services to South African
prisoners in Malabo.
In order to curb the destabilising role of mercenaries,
the SA Government enacted the Regulation of Foreign
Military Assistance Act (Act 15 of 1998). The Government
views contraventions of this Act in a very serious light.
Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853
Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
6 April 2004
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