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South Africa and Zimbabwe may be in for another legal war over the alleged illegal renditions and killings of Zimbabwean citizens in South Africa.
According to reports gathered by LEADERSHIP, a Zimbabwean human rights group has threatened South Africa's chief crime fighting unit with international legal action, over on ongoing probe into the illegal renditions of Zimbabwean citizens from South Africa.
Several senior officials in the Hawks criminal unit and the South African police were recently accused of conducting the renditions, in partnership with Zimbabwean police.
This has reportedly led to a number of Zimbabwean 'suspects' being arrested in South Africa and then sent across the border illegally, and killed.
The reports indicted South Africa's Police Minister, Nathi Mthethwa, for sitting on explosive reports listing at least three deaths of Zimbabwean nationals, noting that the deaths were as a result of a 'renditions' operation led by police and Hawks officers.
In his reactions, Police Chief Mthethwa said a preliminary investigation into the allegations is almost completed. But according to the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum (ZEF) this is the first time any form of probe has been mentioned. ZEF Director Gabriel Shumba said that he fears the allegations would be covered up.
"These renditions are crimes against humanity that include brutal assaults on people. Yet nothing has been done to prevent this from continuing," Shumba said.
The ZEF head also threatened to refer the Hawks members involved to the International Criminal Court (ICC) if they are not brought to justice, explaining that a thorough, credible investigation needs to done.
Shumba meanwhile explained that there has been a noticeable increase in reports of intimidation of Zimbabwean nationals in South Africa, allegedly by Zim police agents operating there. He said this has led to many Zim nationals trying to flee South Africa for other countries.
"We have people trying to get to the US or Canada or somewhere they might be safe. They don't feel safe here (in South Africa) because so many South African police are working with Zimbabwean police," Shumba said.
