
The High Court, Western Cape Division has set down the hearing of an application by the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) in the case of Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) v Minister of Home Affairs and Another for argument on 19 March 2020. SALC is challenging the granting of a visa to Augustinus Petrus Maria Kouwenhoven (Kouwenhoven) by the Department of Home Affairs. Kouwenhoven was convicted by a Dutch Court in the Netherlands for crimes committed in Liberia during the presidency of Charles Taylor. He has exhausted the appeals process in the Netherlands. The summary of his convictions are as follows:
- Aiding and abetting violations, by persons associated with the then President of Liberia, Charles Taylor, of the laws and practices of war, contrary to international law and/or article 3 of the Geneva Conventions dated 12 August 1949 in Gueckedou, Guinea, in 2000 and 2001 and Voinjama and Kolahun, Liberia, in 2001 and 2002; and
- Contravening Dutch regulations giving effect to the United Nations Arms embargo on Liberia by imposing an embargo on sales of weapons to Liberia, by supplying weapons to Charles Taylor, and his armed forces in the periods 21 July 2001 to 8 May 2002 and 26 September 2002 to 7 May 2003.