President Thabo Mbeki had a midnight meeting with a delegation from Equatorial Guinea regarding the alleged mercenaries arrested in that country, he said on Thursday.
Speaking while on an election campaign trail in Mafikeng, Mbeki said the country has asked South Africa for help in ensuring that the trial of the arrested men is transparent and fair.
”It was a direct request,” Mbeki said.
He said South Africa will not be doing the same in Zimbabwe simply because the Zimbabwean government has not made the same direct request.
He said Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma is currently working with an Equatorial Guinea delegation on the issue.
South Africa has also agreed to help the West African country with its investigation into the alleged plotted coup.
He said officials from South Africa, Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea are working closely together on the issue.
On the threat that the arrested men in Zimbabwe would face the death penalty, Mbeki said no charges had been laid against the men and it was doubtful people would be sentenced to death for fraud.
”But no charges had been preferred, and I can’t speculate on possible sentences,” he said.
Mbeki said some of the men arrested in Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea are known to the South African security organisations and some are former South African Defence Force members.
He said South Africa will definitely charge any of the men suspected of contravening the Foreign Military Assistance Act. — Sapa
Equatorial Guinea, SA meet on coup attempt