If the South African government has granted diplomatic immunity to Grace Mugabe it is not only scandalous but undermines the legal system and fails the victim, says Dr. Pieter Groenewald, leader of the FF Plus.
Dr. Groenewald says it is unthinkable that a person can commit an offense in the country and then simply claim diplomatic immunity.
"If diplomatic immunity was not granted to Grace Mugabe, and she is in Zimbabwe, it would make the minister of police, Fikile Mbalula look like a fool. He stated explicitly that all border posts and airports were placed on the highest alert to prevent her leaving the country, which would mean that he only provided lip service to the people of South Africa.
"The granting of immunity will once again waste taxpayers' money in court cases because of the government's incompetence and the fact that it does not want to accept the responsibility to protect its citizens.
"It is clear that the Grace Mugabe case has become a second Omar al-Bashir case. The government has no respect for the law and violates the country's Constitution, which places an obligation on the government to ensure the security of its citizens. In this case, the victim is not protected.
"Corruption in South Africa thrives because offenders are not punished. This impunity is the cancer that destroys justice and service," says Dr. Groenewald.
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