PRETORIA, March 11– The Democratic Alliance (DA), South Africa’s main opposition party, wants the Minister of International Relations and Co-operation (Dirco), Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, to urgently address Parliament on the apparent diplomatic row between South Africa and Rwanda.

The DA wants the South African government to explain the circumstances surrounding its diplomatic row with Rwanda. This follows reports that Rwanda expelled six South African diplomats, after Pretoria gave three Rwandan officials 72 hours to leave the country.

South Africa has still not explained the expulsion of the diplomats. The diplomatic fallout between South Africa and Rwanda follows an apparent row over the attempted murder of an exiled former Rwandan general, Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa ,in Johannesburg.

Rwanda has accused South Africa of harbouring terrorists.

It is alleged that the three Rwandan diplomats were involved in several assassination attempts on Nyamwasa.

Dirco has refused to comment on this but DA Menber of Parliamenyt Justus de Goede believes the public deserves an explanation from Maite Nkoana-Mashabane. “We need to know exactly what it is going on and we think the minister should give an explanation,” said de Goede.

Former Rwandan spy chief Patrick Karegeya was found strangled in a hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg, on New Year’s Eve last year.

SOURCE: SABC