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

DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATIONPART 4: IMMUNITY DISPUTES IN THE RSA4.1 IntroductionObligations4.1.1 Confirmation of immunity status to an affected party in dispute withthe diplomatic and international communities accredited with theDepartment, shall be affected upon request, through a legal certificateaccording to section 9(3) of the Diplomatic Immunities and PrivilegesAct, 2001 (Act No. 37 of 2001) as amended issued by the Chief ofState Protocol on behalf of the Director-General of InternationalRelations and Cooperation.4.1.2 It is important that disputes involving the diplomatic community aredealt with professionally at all levels in the Department. It wouldtherefore require that the bilateral or multilateral business unitfacilitate an environment where an amicable settlement could beconsidered between the affected parties, prior to the Branch: StateProtocol applying remedies according to international diplomaticpractice, or escalating it to the highest political office and the legaldomain, to apply international law remedies.4.1.3 Immunity disputes often continue ad infinitum where no milestonesare introduced to manage the process and communicate the outcomesto complainants. A set of procedures with timelines is thereforePage 69 of 90