We write to you once again as the Progressive Forces of South Africa (PFSA), deeply concerned and increasingly frustrated by DIRCO’s silence and inaction regarding the matter of the late former President of Zambia, Edgar Lungu, whose burial and repatriation remain entangled in South Africa’s courts.
Since the beginning of this matter, DIRCO has not engaged with us, nor has it engaged adequately with the South African public or media. This absence of transparency has left a vacuum of accountability, raising serious questions about the role of your department in facilitating and managing what has now become a highly sensitive diplomatic and legal issue.
For record purposes, allow us to note the timeline of events:
4 August 2025: The Lungu family brought their case before the Pretoria High Court. The matter was dismissed, and the Zambian government’s right to repatriate the body was upheld.
8 September 2025: The family then approached the Constitutional Court. Once again, the case was dismissed, with the court refusing to entertain what it considered baseless litigation.
September 2025: The matter has now escalated further, with the family seeking leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) in Bloemfontein.
At every stage, South Africa’s courts have thrown out these cases. Yet the family continues to exploit our judiciary, and their cases appear to be given urgent prioritization despite their lack of merit. This irregular situation is not only an abuse of process but also a drain on our judicial resources.
Minister, we ask directly:
Why has DIRCO remained silent since this matter began?
What message does this silence seem to send to South Africans and Zambians about how our government handles matters of international sensitivity
How is DIRCO verifying the authenticity of the circumstances around Lungu’s reported death and ensuring proper diplomatic protocols are followed?
We reiterate: this family cannot be allowed to keep bouncing from one South African court to another, while their cases are given precedence over domestic matters affecting South Africans. This silence from your department risks suggesting complicity or negligence.
We urge DIRCO to urgently break its silence, clarify its position, and engage transparently with civil society and the South African people. Failure to do so only deepens mistrust in institutions tasked with safeguarding our sovereignty and integrity.
We request your formal response within seven (7) working days.