South African authorities have not been formally approached on a proposal for alleged killer Shrien Dewani to return voluntarily, the justice department said on Wednesday.
Spokesman Tlali Tlali was speaking ahead of the scheduled Thursday start of an extradition hearing in the United Kingdom.
South African authorities are seeking to have Dewani brought back to this country to stand trial for the alleged contract murder of his wife Anni during their honeymoon in Cape Town in November.
A friend of Shrien Dewani reportedly told the BBC last week that the 31-year-old had not ruled out returning to South Africa to clear his name if “certain guarantees” were given.
These included being given bail until to the point of final appeal, if bail were needed, and freedom of movement to enable him to build his defence.
Tlali said on Wednesday that the department had “taken note” of reports suggesting that Dewani might come to South Africa without extradition.
“We cannot be expected to react to these and make undertakings based on views expressed in the media,” he said.
“We will continue to conduct ourselves within the framework of the law and pursuant to our extradition intent.”
Tlali said any proposal consistent with having Dewani stand trial on South African soil could “possibly” be considered if it was formally brought to the department's attention.
“At the moment we have not been formally approached,” he said.
“As matters stand, the extradition enquiry will get underway in the UK on Thursday.”
Tlali said the South African team who would provide “the necessary assitance and support” to UK authorities in the hearing was already in the UK.
He said the South Africans themselves would not address the court.
The hearing would take place in the same way extradition proceedings would be conducted in South Africa, led by a domestic prosecutor or equivalent.
The South African government has made two requests to the UK authorities -one for the extradition of Dewani and the second for mutual legal assistance. -
Sapa