SOUTH Africa is reviewing a request from Ethiopia to extradite former dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam, the department of foreign affairs said on Monday. The South African government received a formal request on Friday night, foreign affairs spokesman Dan Ngwepe said. “The relevant government departments and agencies will review this request in the coming days.” The request was forwarded through the South African embassy in Addis Ababa. “All developments in this regard will be discussed with the Ethiopian authorities within existing diplomatic channels,” Ngwepe said. He declined to elaborate.