Presidency rules out démarche for UAE envoy after Gupta extradition bungle
JOHANNESBURG - President Cyril Ramaphosa's office says there is "no reason" for South Africa to issue a démarche to the UAE's ambassador following the failed extradition of the Gupta brothers.
A démarche is an extreme diplomatic step for a country to express its displeasure with another country.
However, a well-placed source at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) confirmed that South Africa was set to formally express its disappointment to the United Arab Emirates ambassador, Mahash Saeed Alhameli, following the extradition bungle of the Gupta brothers.
Responding to News24 during a media briefing on Wednesday, Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said there "is no reason" to issue a démarche against the UAE ambassador as South Africa was using appropriate options to deal with the matter.
Last week, Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola announced that the UAE had refused a request by South Africa to extradite Rajesh and Atul Gupta to face money laundering and fraud charges.
Lamola said the Dubai Court of Appeal had made
the decision on February 13 without South Africa being notified and that the country learned with "shock and dismay" last Thursday through its embassy in Abu Dhabi that the application had been denied.
The justice minister said the Gupta brothers appeared in court without South Africa being notified.
He said South Africa had requested updates on the case in February and March, but none was forthcoming.
Lamola added that the dismissal was based on "technicalities" that he suggested could have been addressed if South African authorities had been given a chance.
News24 understands that the government has decided to deal with the matter through Dirco.
However, Magwenya said South Africa was currently using laws available in the UAE that will allow South Africa to file an appeal against the decision not to extradite the brothers.
He added that there were also ongoing engagements between Lamola and the UAE's ambassador to South Africa around the issue.
News24 reported on Wednesday that while Lamola was adamant that South Africa would engage the UAE for a "prompt" appeal against the refusal of the extradition, it remained unclear if it would succeed as there was a limited amount of time in which such an appeal can be lodged.