Status on the cooperation between the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and the Libyan Government regarding the search mission for a South African Citizen

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NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NO: 2052 (NW2301E)

PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 21-2011 OF 5 AUGUST 2011

MR LS NGONYAMA (COPE-NA) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION OF THE RESPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA:

Whether her department has been in full cooperation with the Libyan government on the search mission for a certain person (name furnished); if not, why not; if so,

(a) Why did the department state that he was alive when he was in fact already dead and

(b) what is the state of relations between the Libyan government and the South African government after the incident regarding the said person?

REPLY:

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation through its Chief Directorate: Consular Services is cooperating fully with the Libyan Government in the search of the mortal remains of the late Mr Anton Hammerl.

(a) South Africa was assured by the Libyan government in Tripoli following Anton Hammerl’s disappearance that they had him in custody. Unfortunately South Africa only discovered that Mr Hammerl had been shot and left to die after the release of the two USA and one Spanish journalist on 18 May and a subsequent debriefing of the three in Tunisia on 19 May.

(b) South Africa continues to engage the Libyan government in an effort to locate the remains of Mr Hammerl and have provided the Libyan government with Mr Hammerl’s DNA profile. The incident has not impacted on the relationship with the Libyan government.

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