Status on the Arrest and Imprisonment of a South African Citizen in the United Arab Emirates, and the assistance provided by the South African Consulate General in Dubai

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NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

 FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NO: 108

PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 2 OF 12 JUNE 2009

Mr K S Mubu (DA) to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation:

(1) Whether, with reference to the arrest and imprisonment of a certain person (name furnished) in the United Arab Emirates, her department has taken any steps to ensure that the said person’s rights are upheld; if not, why not; if so, (a) what steps and (b) assistance has been offered to the said person and her family since the date she was arrested;

(2) whether the consul at the South African Consulate General in Dubai assisted (a) the said person and (b) her family from the date of the arrest; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what assistance was given in each case?

REPLY:

1. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation through its Consulate General in Dubai was not in a position to render immediate consular assistance in the prescribed manner.  However it is important to note that the named person had access to legal representation appearing in Court on 17 May 2009.  Sentence was passed on 1 June 2009 and an appeal lodged on 2 June 2009.  The appeal was heard on 21 June 2009. Her (original) sentence was upheld.

2. Since the return of the Consul: Administration and Consular to the Consulate General, a consular visit was carried out on 11 June 2009 to the named person.  The parents have been informed of the outcome of the visit.  The Consul attended her appeal hearing and will continue to render consular assistance as prescribed. 

Steps have been taken to prevent such a recurrence at the Consulate General.

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