New prison for genocide suspect after threat

Rwandan genocide suspect Fulgence Kayishema was transferred out of Pollsmoor Prison in SA due to a threat to his life, the state revealed in the Cape Town Regional Court last week. However, without providing further details of the threat, prosecutor Nathan Adriaanse said that due to his transfer to Helderstroom Prison near Caledon, there was a mix-up in bringing him to court, a News24 report says. ‘We are not in a position to proceed,’ said Adriaanse. Speaking outside the court, Kayishema's attorney Corinne Petersen said she was told that Crime Intelligence had picked up a threat of potential harm to Kayishema, but also knew no further details. He was originally kept in Helderstroom Prison, then transferred to Pollsmoor Prison, then moved back to Helderstroom for his safety. Kayishema was traced to Paarl and arrested on 24 May 2023. The International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals wants SA to transfer him to Arusha, Tanzania, to stand trial on charges of allegedly participating in the genocide in Rwanda in 1994. While detaining him ahead of transfer processes, investigators found he had allegedly violated the Immigration and Refugee Acts with travel documents in fake names. The Regional Court matter regarding the Immigration and Refugee Acts fraud charges, was postponed to 28 November.