Today the North Gauteng High Court dismissed an application for leave to appeal against the judgment delivered in Southern African Litigation Centre and Another v National Director of Public Prosecutions and Others by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) South African police (SAPS).
You’ll remember that last month the High Court ruled in SALC’s favour when it found that the NPA and SAPS’ decision not to initiate an investigation into crimes against humanity committed in Zimbabwe was unlawful because they failed to take into consideration South Africa’s international obligations in terms of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and domestic legislation giving effect to these obligations. The NPA and SAPS were therefore ordered to initiate an investigation. They challenged this decision on a number of grounds, all of which were dismissed, and Judge Hans Fabricius concluded that an appeal held no reasonable prospects of success.
Read the press release below:
Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) and Zimbabwe Exiles Forum (ZEF)
7 June 2012
HIGH COURT DISMISSES APPEAL APPLICATION IN ZIMBABWE TORTURE CASE
Johannesburg – The North Gauteng High Court today dismissed an application for leave to appeal against last month’s ruling that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and South African Police Services (SAPS) must investigate crimes against humanity committed in Zimbabwe.
This application, brought by the NPA and SAPS, was in response to the High Court’s landmark ruling in favour of the Southern Africa Litigation Centre’s (SALC) and Zimbabwe Exile Forum’s (ZEF). The NPA and SAPS were found to have ignored their international and domestic Rome Statute obligations to investigate torture as a crime against humanity regardless of where the crime is committed or by whom. The High Court ordered the SAPS and NPA to investigate allegations of torture committed in Zimbabwe which were brought to the attention of NPA and SAPS in 2008.
“This decision confirms the correct application and interpretation of South Africa’s obligations to investigate and prosecute international crimes,” said Nicole Fritz, Executive Director of SALC. “The NPA and SAPS must now take action and they can no longer justify delaying the initiation of an investigation of crimes that have been ignored for over four years.”
The NPA and SAPS argued that the High Court’s finding that South Africa’s domestic Rome Statute Act requires South Africa to investigate core international crimes when committed outside of South Africa was incorrect. The NPA and SAPS maintain that South Africa only has jurisdiction to prosecute these crimes. It was also argued that the court had erred in accepting that SALC and ZEF had legal standing to bring this case.
Judge Hans Fabricius dismissed both arguments finding that NPA and SAPS failed to demonstrate that this case was not brought in the public interest and in the interest of the Zimbabwean torture victims. Judge Fabricius also found that the NPA’s and SAPS’ interpretation would render South Africa’s domestic Rome Statute Act meaningless and that they ignored the fact that investigations are a necessary component of prosecutions.
In dismissing the application Judge Fabricius concluded that an appeal has no reasonable prospects of success and noted that even if leave to appeal had been granted he would not have suspended the initiation of an investigation pending the outcome of an appeal.
For more information contact:
Nicole Fritz, SALC Director, +27 11 5875065, Cell +27 82 600 1028; NicoleF@salc.org.za
Gabriel Shumba, ZEF Chairperson, Cell +27 72 639 3795
Alan Wallis, SALC, + 27 11 5875065, Cell +27 82 826 5700; AlanW@salc.org.za
This entry was posted in International Criminal Justice and tagged crimes against humanity, ICC, International Criminal Court, investigate, Rome Statute, South Africa, torture, Zimbabwe. Bookmark the permalink.
ONE RESPONSE TO “INVESTIGATIONS MUST GO AHEAD – SA HIGH COURT DISMISSES APPEAL APPLICATION IN ZIM TORTURE CASE”
NENGOVHELA ME says: 7 JUNE, 2012 AT 6:00 PM The way I see it NPA and SAPS are not aware,even if they can be aware,the feel pressed to render such service to neighboring states.Mugabe’s leadership has been accompanied by controversy which even larger bodies like SADC still struggles to come in to terms with.Remember some of numerous abuse happened during elections time,which SADC observers declared them free and fair,saying Mugabe’s nomination was legitimate.For sure not only SADC were reporting this,majority of news agency reported many irregularities, that is why we know there were lot of human abuse. The probe into alleged human abuse will render SADC’s observer mission inappropriate and will question its integrity.
