The government has denied a media report alleging that President Jacob Zuma and security cluster ministers had held a secret meeting to ensure the departure of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.
“(The) 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. It alleges that this meeting was to plot the safe passage of President al-Bashir during African Union Summit in Johannesburg last week,” acting cabinet spokesperson Phumla Williams said.
According to the Mail & Guardian newspaper, Zuma and four cabinet ministers hatched a plan to get Bashir out of the country.
“If it (the plan) leaks, it will be known (who made the leak),” the paper quoted one of its sources.
Bashir, who was in South Africa for the AU Summit last week, is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and crimes against humanity over atrocities committed in the Darfur conflict.
The Sudanese president’s plane left the Waterkloof Air Force base despite a Pretoria High Court order that the government must keep Bashir in South Africa pending a final decision on whether to arrest him on an ICC warrant.
“The report relies on nameless and faceless sources to make these allegations. (The) 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,” Williams said.
Human Rights Watch has said South Africa flouted local and international laws when it allowed Bashir to leave the country.
– eNCA