State to oppose application by Kayishema’s lawyers to access some of its documents
Kayishema was meant to appear at the Cape Town Regional Court on Thursday but didn't make it to court.
FILE: Fulgence Kayishema, a Rwandan national accused of being involved in the 1994 genocide, in the Cape Town Magistrates Court. Picture: Kayleen Morgan/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - The State said it would oppose an application by lawyers of Rwandan genocide suspect Fulgence Kayishema to access some documents in the State's possession.
Kayishema was meant to appear at the Cape Town Regional Court on Thursday but didn't make it to court.
The State said Kayishema was transferred from Pollsmoor to Helderstroom Prison in Caledon due to a safety threat.
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He is accused of ordering the killing of 2,000 Tutsi people hiding inside a church and had been on the run for more than two decades.
The 64-year-old former Rwandan police officer was tracked down to a farm in Paarl after allegedly being on the run for more than two decades.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)'s Eric Ntabazalila explained what the defence application entailed.
"Section C of the docket is the diary of the investigating officer, and section B of the docket is also other information or whatever is in the docket that's written down. They've not given us reasons why they want access to those parts of the docket, and in terms of our policy, we don't freely give out those sections of the docket. But we will have to come to court and argue, and let the court decide whether we provide them with those sections or not."
Kayishema's family spokesperson, Joseph Habinshuti, said the case had taken a toll on them.
"First of all, we were not allowed to visit him in Pollsmoor. It was always fully booked when we called. Now it will be a financial problem because Helderstroom Prison is far. We must hire a car to go there and come back."