South African Diaspora Petition SA Government

Diplomatic Action against Zimbabwe Politicians implicated in Gold smuggling and Money Laundering involving individuals, local Financial Institutions, acts promoting lawlessness in SADC, noting failure by SAPS to comply with 30 October 2014 High Court ruling on human rights abuse in Zimbabwe. {Download the Written Petition HERE}

Zimbabwe Integrated Platform, Disabled Migrants Rights Networking Organization, Africa Integrated Platform, Zimbabwe Human Rights Organisation, Zimbabwe Economic Movement, Zimbabwe Youth Alliance and stakeholders partners are bringing to your attention, and seeking enforcement and implementing the 2014 ruling by High Court, into Act for rule of law. We prevail with the possibility to curb an influx of migrants fleeing violence, intimidation and harassment into South Africa.

We understand that Gold Corruption, and Money Laundering by Al Jazeera involving politicians, individuals and local financial institutions should be investigated and perpetrators charged accordingly.

It is also noted that Human Rights abuses are being enacted due to dividends earned from Money Laundering and Gold smuggling syndicates.

On 30 October 2014, the Constitutional Court of South Africa handed down its judgment in a landmark case for international criminal justice.

• The appeal related to the responsibilities of the South African Police Service (SAPS) under domestic and international law to investigate acts of torture, as a crime against humanity, that were allegedly committed in Zimbabwe.
•  The decision, by South Africa’s highest court, reaffirms the obligations set out in the South African Implementation of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court Act 27 of 2002 (ICC Act) regarding investigation and prosecution of international crimes.
• The case, which is the first to be brought in terms of South Africa’s ICC Act, provides substantive and practical content to South Africa’s Rome Statute obligations. The Constitutional Court found that South Africa’s prosecuting and investigating authorities ignored South Africa’s international and domestic obligations in their initial refusal to investigate.

Furthermore, the court held that while the principle of non-intervention in another state’s territory must be observed, this would not be violated by an investigation conducted exclusively within South Africa. Given the urgency of this matter, the court did not remit to the High Court, but rather issued an order requiring the SAPS to investigate the above complaint.

The case sets an important precedent. It states that South Africa’s law provides for a form of universal jurisdiction in respect of international crimes. Further, it underscores the responsibilities of the police and the prosecution where such matters are brought to them. Importantly, it reaffirms South Africa’s commitment to ensuring international criminal justice and will serve as a guide for South African authorities regarding future international criminal justice investigations.

The decision offers prospects of justice for those who allegedly suffered torture in Zimbabwe. It also sends out a clear message that South Africa must be guided in its foreign relations by its domestic and international law commitments.

We bring this to the notice of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in order that proper steps be taken for the perpetrators of gross human rights abusers visiting South Africa to be apprehended and charged.

However, it is essential that such persons are prohibited by law from making threats, stalking or communicating to others their desire to physically harm the litigants, human rights activists and their families and place of work.

We also request that:

• The DIRCO must publicly state its intervention in this matter and make clear that those defending human rights and vulnerable people in the Republic shall not be intimidated, threatened or harmed by any member of the public or any party, whether private or state.
• The SAPS and DIRCO must inform the public about their position and progress made on this matter.

Zimbabwe Integrated Platform (ZIP) is a non-profit organization (NPO) founded in 2020 and established to create and sustain economic ideas, programs and projects in underprivileged and disadvantaged communities, capacity-building, skills and social development programs, and fosters social cohesion among the youth, women, disabled, migrants & vulnerable groups.

 Signatories: