Hon member Dudley, I think we should possibly not involve the issue of innocence or guilt and all of that. We as the South African government will not make a determination on that issue. What we have made a determination on is that the consistent postponement of the case constitutes an unfair process for the professor.
At the end of last year we started to intervene and we received positive feedback. Firstly, we were able to make sure that he was able to move freely in the UAE pending the court case.
Secondly, the court has now decided that a medical review committee will investigate if Prof Karabus should or should not stand trial on the matter. That was not there a few months ago. That was not there four months ago. So, that is very, very important.
The medical review committee now has to sit and look at all the documentation before the court case and then make a recommendation. Our view is that the fact that they were not able to find the original documentation makes a very strong argument for the professor to be released and to come back.
However, having said all of that, the humanitarian consideration - his age and health condition - lays a very important responsibility on the authorities of that country. We are cautiously hopeful, but we do not want to play politics in this case. We are calling on all members and all political parties to support that.