Johannesburg - The government has denied reports that the security cluster ministers held a secret meeting to protect and give safe passage to Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to leave South Africa.
“Government categorically denies that there was a secret meeting held by the security cluster ministers including Minister in the Presidency and the Director-General of the Presidency, in Cape Town,” Government Communication and Information System said in a statement on Monday.
“It alleges that this meeting was to plot the safe passage of President al-Bashir during African Union Summit in Johannesburg last week.”
Bashir, wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court ,left South Africa on June 15, despite a court order barring him from leaving.
He has been indicted by the ICC for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide against some of the tribes of Sudan’s western Darfur region. Two warrants of arrest were issued against him in 2009 and 2010. As a member of the ICC, SA is obliged to arrest him and surrender him to the ICC.
GCIS was responding to a report in the Sunday Times that a government plot to “protect and give safe passage” to Bashir was hatched at a secret meeting held by security cluster ministers at the Taj Hotel in Cape Town five days before he landed in SA.
According to the report, a senior government source with direct knowledge of the meeting said it was agreed that SA would “protect” Bashir by any means necessary even if it meant “flouting court rulings and undermining the constitution”.
However, GCIS said the report relies on nameless and faceless sources to make these allegations.
“Government remains committed to finalise this matter through the court process. It is expected to provide the court with a report that explains how President al-Bashir left the country,” GCIS said.
The Southern Africa Litigation Centre, brought an application before the High Court in Pretoria to compel the South African government to fulfill its obligations to the ICC.
Bashir was in Johannesburg to attend the 25th African Union Summit.
On June 15, GCIS said it would enquire into the controversial circumstances surrounding the departure of Bashir.
ANA