Status on the assistance that the Department of International Relations and Cooperation is rendering to the four South Africans who have been arrested in Zimbabwe

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FOR WRITTEN REPLY

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

1. Whether she has been informed of the four South Africans that have been arrested in Zimbabwe; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so,
   
   
2. whether her department is communicating with the specified persons; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
   
   
3. whether her department is currently offering them any assistance; if not, why not; if so, what is the nature of the assistance;
   
   
4. whether her department will intervene to resolve the matter with the Zimbabwean authorities; if not, why not; if so, (a) what are the relevant details and (b) by when does she expect the matter to have been resolved? NW1491E

REPLY:

1. Yes
   
   
2. Yes
   
   
3. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation renders consular assistance to South African citizens arrested abroad in terms of its mandate arising from the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (VCCR), 1963 in particular Article 36.
   
   
4. No, Government does not intervene in the judicial processes of sovereign states.  The four South Africans are scheduled to appear before court on 20 June 2011.  They have legal representation in Zimbabwe.

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