The political fallout over the granting of diplomatic immunity to Grace Mugabe has led to civil society groups and opposition parties pushing for a review of the decision in the High Court.
The DA and AfriForum said yesterday Grace Mugabe will not be let off the hook after she flew back to Harare on Saturday evening with her husband, President Robert Mugabe, after she was granted diplomatic immunity by the South African government.
AfriForum’s legal representative Willie Spies said Mugabe’s departure was not the end of the story.
Portfolio committee on international relations chairperson Siphosezwe Masango said they will discuss the matter in the ANC study group tomorrow. “They haven’t had time to discuss it. Tomorrow’s meeting should come up with a decision.”
AfriForum chief executive Kallie Kriel said they will launch a review application of the decision to grant Grace diplomatic immunity. “If the review application is successful (and there are very good grounds to believe it will be) the doors will be open for the National Prosecuting Authrity to prosecute Mrs Mugabe.”
If the NPA refuses to prosecute Mugabe AfriForum's private prosecution unit will begin with a private one.
The DA said Parliament must institute a full-scale inquiry. Chief whip John Steenhuisen said the party wanted all the ministers involved in granting Grace diplomatic immunity to be hauled before the inquiry.
It was inexplicable how the government allowed Mugabe to leave the country, he said.
It did exactly the same when it allowed Sudan President Omar al-Bashir to leave the country when there was an international arrest warrant out for him.
Somadoda Fikeni of Unisa said this would have implications for the government, and if Mugabe would be able to return to South Africa. “It will depend how the two countries handled the matter. If it leads to court cases that will complicate the situation. But if she successfully challenges the case she will still be coming back.”
Fikeni said this would not make things easy for the Zimbabwe government in how it deals with the situation. South Africa has strong trade ties with Zimbabwe.
SAA also confirmed planes started operating between the two countries yesterday after the weekend stand-off. An SAA airline was detained in Zimbabwe while an Air Zimbabwe flight was cancelled at OR Tambo International Airport.
Police spokesperson Vish Naidoo could not be reached for comment and he did not respond to text messages.