Frank Buyanga attacked in prison

Frank Buyanga Sadiqi, a Zimbabwean businessman jailed in South Africa for extradition, was reportedly attacked in a Johannesburg remand prison and is requesting a transfer.
Buyanga (43) was arrested on kidnapping and contempt of court charges in Zimbabwe.

Buyanga’s South African identity cards state he was born in Zimbabwe, but his Zimbabwean passport says he was born in the UK. He was remanded in detention until today or Tuesday next week to allow South African officials to authenticate his documents.

Last Monday, the Zimbabwean National Prosecuting Authority challenged a magistrate’s decision to dismiss an arrest order for Buyanga.

Since then, he’s appeared in Randburg Magistrates Court and been remanded.

Mrs. Taruvinga erroneously issued Buyanga’s arrest warrant before the Harare Magistrates Court on Monday. Prosecutor-General Nelson Mutsonziwa challenged the cancellation in court, naming Taruvinga and Buyanga as respondents.

He wanted the High Court to overturn Mrs. Taruvinga’s ruling, saying that the warrant was revoked improperly.

“The court lacked jurisdiction to quash an arrest warrant executed by South African law enforcement on Zimbabwe’s extradition request.

“There was a gross irregularity in the proceedings or decision of the court, in that the court perpetuated contempt of court by (Buyanga) by granting his legal practitioner audience,” said Mr Mutsonziwa in the application.

Last Monday, Buyanga’s lawyer, Laurence Hodes, requested a quick bail hearing.

Mr. Hodes informed the Randburg Magistrates Court that the Interpol warrant used to arrest Buyanga on November 10 had been annulled in Zimbabwe. Mr. Hodes said he gave the paperwork, including Buyanga’s passport, to the SANPA. He said Buyanga owns a home in South Africa and the defense added his immigration permits to their affidavit to establish he’s not a flight risk and eligible to bail. Herald