Judgment has been reserved in the admissibility of a temporary asylum-seeker’s permit of Rwandan general and suspected war criminal, Kayumba Nyamwasa as evidence in a case in court.
The case has been brought by the Consortium for Refugees and Migrants Rights in South Africa and the Southern Africa Litigation Centre. This is to challenge in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, South Africa’s decision to grant Nyamwasa refugee status.
The state’s lawyer Marumo Moerane submitted an affidavit to clarify Nyamwasa’s refugee status application process. The applicant’s lawyer, Max du Plessis, submitted counter arguments to have that evidence rejected by the court.
Both legal teams had a go at each in presenting their arguments to court. Nyamwasa’s attorney Nic Potgieter argued that the permit issued on 28 May 2010 was valid and should be admitted as evidence.
However, the respondents’ lawyer argued that Potgieter failed to reveal the necessary information, including dates on which Nyamwasa was interviewed as part of the asylum status application process.
Judge Nomonde Mngqibisa-Thusi adjourned the proceedings and reserved her judgement.
