The extradition case of former Finance Minister Manuel Chang, requested by the US and Mozambique, is pending a decision by the South African Supreme Court of Appeal, South Africa's Justice Minister Ronald Lamola announced yesterday. 

Ronald Lamola called a press conference to update the country on the ongoing extradition cases of several fugitives from justice.

The United States and Mozambique have been waiting since 2018 for the decision on the extradition of former Mozambican Finance Minister Manuel Chang.

"The case is with the SCA [Supreme Court of Appeal] for argument and also for decision. That's where the case is," the South African Justice Minister said at a press conference.

It should be noted that Manuel Chang was arrested by the South African Police Service (SAPS) at the request of the United States at Johannesburg International Airport on December 29, 2018, en route to Dubai on charges of money laundering and financial fraud, and is being held at Modderbee Prison in Benoni, east of Johannesburg.

The former finance minister is considered a "key player" in the hidden debts of the Mozambican state contracted between 2013 and 2014, without the approval of parliament, worth 2.2 billion dollars, by signing the state guarantees on behalf of the government of former president Armando Guebuza.