SA wants answers for alleged ill-treatment of opera star Pretty Yende in Paris
The South African government says it wants answers from French authorities for the alleged ill-treatment of opera star Pretty Yende in the country’s capital earlier this week.
It’s understood Yende was arrested at the Charles De Gaulle International Airport in Paris on Monday and held for over three hours.
French police accused Yende of having an invalid Italian residence permit.
But the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) says the accusations are baseless.
“Her Long-term EU resident status, issued on 02/16/2015 by the Police Headquarters in Milan and with unlimited validity is provided by article 9 of the Consolidated Immigration Act and regularly issued in accordance with European Directive 2003/109/EC,” says Dirco spokesperson Clayson Monyela.
READ: Port Shepstone police searching for missing teen
He adds the South African Embassy in Paris has written to French authorities seeking an explanation and requesting a thorough investigation into the matter.
“Ms Yende informed the South African embassy in Paris that she was verbally abused by the police and her rights and dignity were violated during the ordeal.
“Further to the correspondence by the South African Embassy in Paris, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation will demarche the French Ambassador to South Africa, based in Pretoria to convey its displeasure at the treatment of Ms Yende,” Monyela adds.
The incident happened during Yende’s return to Paris to perform at the Theatre Des Champs-Elysees.
