Sub-judice no excuse here

The Democratic Alliance (DA) says International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, pictured, refused to appear before the parliamentary committee on international relations to provide reasons for her decision to grant diplomatic immunity to Zimbabwean First Lady Grace Mugabe.

“The chairperson of the committee, Mr [Moses] Masango, had confirmed to the DA on August 23 that the minister will indeed be called to appear before the committee… This was after we had written to him requesting that an urgent meeting be held and that the minister be summoned to account on this issue,” the DA said.

“Today [yesterday], however, the DA received a letter from the minister saying that she will not be appearing in front of the committee to explain her decision. Mashabane claimed that since the DA had submitted an application to the high court, the matter was now sub-judice.

“This is blatant misuse of the sub-judice rule, which does not apply in this case.”

The DA said the role of oversight and accountability could not be overruled by this sub-judice rule and this was a poor attempt by the minister to escape accountability.

The party said it will again write to the chairperson to reiterate “our urgent and lawful request” that the minister be summoned without delay.

“The DA believes Minister Mashabane took an illegal and unconstitutional decision. That is why we have approached the Constitutional Court in this regard. We simply cannot allow South Africa to be used as a playground for international criminals who have little regard for our laws,” said DA MP Stevens Mokgalapa. – ANA

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