By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
South African Operational Task Team (OTT) arrested a Rwandan fugitive in Paarl in the Western Cape, wanted in connection with the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
The task team included, among others, Home Affairs, Department of International Relations and Coopertion, Interpol, Department of Justice and the National Prosecuting Authority lead by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation.
The 61-year-old man, who has been on Interpol’s red notice, was arrested on Wednesday.
Hawks spokesperson Thandi Mbambo said the man has been using the name of ‘Donatien Nibashumba’.
He was wanted by the UN International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (UN IRMCT) for genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide and crimes against humanity in Rwanda, in 1994.
“At the time of his arrest on the grape farm in Paarl, the Rwandan fugitive was living under a false identity (Donatien Nibashumba).
“This came after the team received the fugitive whereabouts and pictures from the IRMCT that led to the identification of the fugitive who was wanted since 2002.
“According to the arrest warrant issued and IRMCT indictment, the fugitive was the police inspector in Rwanda who allegedly played a significant role in the planning and execution of genocide where more than 2000 people were killed in 1994.
The man is set to appear in court on Friday.
“The fugitive will remain in custody to appear in the Cape Town Magistrate Court for his first appearance on Friday at the disposal of South African judicial authorities pending his extradition to Rwanda,” said Mbambo.
According to the United Nations around 800,000 people — Tutsis but also moderate Hutus — were slaughtered over 100 days by ethnic Hutu extremists during the 1994 genocide.
Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Ronald Lamola has welcomed the arrest of a Rwandan fugitive.
“With this arrest two emphatic statements cannot be refuted, that the long arm of the law knows no time bounds and South Africa is not willing to be a safe haven for fugitives. We will continue to assist other countries and international bodies to trace fugitives. We expect the same from other countries,” Lamola said.
“The arrest comes after an Interpol Red Notice was issued at the request of the United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunal (IRMCT). The fugitive was wanted by the IRMCT for genocide and crimes against humanity in Rwanda.