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Ramaphosa saved from answering Al-Bashir question

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National Council of Provinces chairperson Thandi Modise would not allow questions about Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir’s controversial visit to South Africa to be asked during Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa’s question and answer session on Wednesday.

Ramaphosa was asked by DA NCOP member Jacques Julius why government allowed Al-Bashir to leave the country and what steps the deputy president, who is the special envoy to Sudan, would take to make sure that those who were in contempt of court would be held responsible.

However, before Ramaphosa could answer a point of order was raised arguing that the matter was before the courts and, therefore, sub judice.

Modise upheld the point of order.

“The attendance of President Omar al-Bashir is in court. The courts have ordered an investigation,” she told the NCOP.

She said the investigation had to be concluded before Ramaphosa could make any comments.

During a second attempt to discuss the matter, Modise said: “I exercised my authority not to allow that question…”

Al-Bashir flew out of South Africa on Monday before the High Court in Pretoria ruled that he should be arrested on the warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

This was despite an earlier ruling blocking him from leaving.

He has two warrants of arrest against him issued by the ICC, in 2009 and 2010. He faces seven counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, and three counts of genocide. News24


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