DA pushes for urgent debate on al-Bashir evasion
The party wants to know why the Sudanese president was allowed to leave SA despite a court order.
CAPE TOWN - The official opposition is pushing for an urgent debate in Parliament on Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir's unlawful departure from South Africa after attending the African Union (AU) Summit.
There's an international warrant out for al-Bashir's arrest in connection with war crimes and alleged genocide.
Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) are demanding answers as to how it was possible for al-Bashir to slip out of the country in the face of a High Court ruling that he should remain.
Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa was asked about the matter in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Wednesday but was shielded from having to answer by Chairperson Thandi Modise.
WATCH: _ Former South Sudan VP tackles al-Bashir controversy_
The Democratic Alliance (DA)'s Jacques Julius wanted to know why the Sudanese president was allowed to leave, and what would be done to those who showed contempt of the court order, but Modise disallowed the question.
"In this particular instance I exercised my authority not to allow that question because as I explained to the House, that matter is in the courts, there is an investigation."
Ramaphosa was off the hook.
WATCH: Government given one week to explain how Omar al-Bashir left South Africa
The DA has asked National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete for an urgent debate on the issue, which could also come up when President Jacob Zuma answers questions in the House this afternoon.
