By Elizabeth ADENUGA
The South African National Assembly on Thursday approved an extradition treaty with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), paving way for extradition of suspects in state capture allegations.
All political parties gave their nod to the Extradition Treaty and another treaty on mutual legal assistance on criminal matters.
South Africa and the UAE concluded the treaties in September amid rising concerns over the magnitude of a rising trend in acts of international terrorism and organised crime.
The treaties are designed to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in combating crime, Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services said.
The Extradition Treaty will be applied retrospectively with specific reference to the Indian Gupta family accused of collaborating with a number of senior South African government officials in looting from the state coffer, known as state capture, the committee said.
Senior members of the Gupta family reportedly have sought refuge in Dubai, the UAE since fleeing South Africa earlier this year after Parliament called for them to be investigated for allegations of state capture.
With the Extradition Treaty in place, proceedings could begin to bring them to South Africa to face criminal proceedings, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said.
DA Member of Parliament Glynis Breytenbach said he hoped that the Guptas would be held to account for “looting our fiscus and that there will be no place for them to hide.’’
The South African Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services reportedly has received seven or eight requests for mutual legal assistance to other countries from the South African Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation in criminal matters regarding investigations into state capture.
