Policy on the Management of Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges ...

DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATIONthe Road Traffic Regulations. Therefore the Department requiresthat the accredited diplomatic and international communities pay alltraffic fines issued by South African law enforcement agencies.Consequently the Department will under no circumstancesintervene with law enforcement in this regard.1.12.2 Locally recruited personnel including chauffeurs and drivers ofdiplomatic vehicles do not enjoy immunity from the jurisdiction ofthe South African courts.1.12.3 Members of diplomatic missions, consular posts and internationalorganisation offices are required to keep their diplomatic identitydocument issued by the Department of International Relations andCooperation (formerly the Department of Foreign Affairs), withthem at all times and to present it upon request to law enforcementagents and financial institutions. The document verifies the legalstatus of foreign representatives and transferred officials.Road TrafficRegulations1.12.4 In relation to traffic violations, the Department holds the view thatas far as consular officers are concerned, driving a motor vehicleper se does not regularly fall within the definition of consularfunctions covered by functional immunity, as defined in Article 43of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, 1963. This is alsoapplicable to heads of consular posts.Page 32 of 90