Nkoana-Mashabane signs diplomatic immunity letter day before it was drafted

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane has granted  Zimbabwe’s First Lady, Grace Mugabe, diplomatic immunity after being charged with assaulting 20-year-old model Gabriella Engels last Sunday.

However, the letter she signed has left social media users confused, questioning what was going on when she signed it.

“In accordance with the powers vested in me by section 7(2) of the Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges Act, 2001 (Act No. 37 of 2001) and acting in the interest of Republic of South Africa, I hereby recognise the immunities and privileges of the First Lady of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr Grace Mugabe, in terms of international law and as set out in the attached Notice,” reads the letter.

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Social media users are questioning the dates on the letter. They have asked how a letter that was drafted on August 20 was signed on August 19.

Former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor seems to have heard how this went down.

“Is it true that she [Nkoana-Mashabane] slept her way through the SADC meeting only to wake up just to sign on the 19th a letter that was written on the 20th? So she signed it first in her sleep on the 19th before it was written on the 20th?”

Mentor was referring to when Nkoana-Mashabane was caught sleeping in parliament by Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, who rudely woke her up and told her she did not get paid to sleep in parliament.

Some have argued the letter may have been drafted before it was signed on the 19th, and only got published on the 20th following the announcement.

These were some of the other comments on social media:

“The act says in the interest of South Africans but clearly the minister was thinking more of the interest of the first lady of Zimbabwe. People were injured and someone lost a baby because of her madness BUT #weshallrememberthisin2019!”

“Almost every week our Government is showing us the middle finger n indirectly telling us to vote them out in 2019.”

“A lawless country, soon they will say South Africans are xenophobic. Cry the beloved country.”

“We are becoming a cynical and angry nation – and we all know who’s fault that is.”

“So this what they were doing at DIRCO this morning with 40 police/metro police cars for security.”

“I checked the date on top and the date it was signed and I concluded that this political party is good in forging things…even unnecessary things.”

“The cherry on the cake is the reference to DR Grace – she apparently did her PhD in 3 months, must be worthy of a Guinness Book of World Records entry.”

“Once again this Government has no respect for the constitution. You can only be granted diplomatic immunity when you apply before entering the country and this needs to gazetted prior to arrival of the applicant in the country. The ruling party and government has now become renown for bending the constitution as it suits them and for their allies.”

Also read: 

https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/sa-authorities-confirm-grace-mugabes-diplomatic-immunity/