Ambassador to face hearing
2003-10-21 20:13
Cape Town - The department of foreign affairs would hold a disciplinary hearing into renewed allegations of sexual misconduct against South Africa's ambassador to Indonesia, a spokesperson said on Tuesday afternoon.
Responding to a motion in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) by the Democratic Alliance on Tuesday, Ronnie Mamoepa said all the allegations against the ambassador were receiving the urgent attention of Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
He said she had received new information regarding the first allegations against the ambassador, Norman Mashabane. He had been found guilty of these during an internal disciplinary hearing, while the new allegations have been referred for a disciplinary hearing.
Mashabane has been found guilty by the department of foreign Affairs of 21 cases of sexual harassment.
Democratic Alliance MP Sandra Botha moved a motion in the NCOP proposing that the house recommend that Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma deal with the matter urgently.
Ambassador remains at his post almost two years after being found guilty, by an internal disciplinary hearing, on 21 workplace sexual harassment charges.
The hearing recommended in December 2001 that he be sacked, but Mashabane appealed and was allowed to continue in his post pending the outcome.
Dlamini-Zuma has apparently been considering the appeal since last year.
The new sex complaint was lodged against Mashabane in July.
Botha said in her motion that the woman who laid the latest complaint against Mashabane had been transferred to Korea.
"This House recommends that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, deals with the appeal proceedings with the utmost urgency," she said.
Botha added that Mashabane's reported claim that he would not lose his post because he was a presidential appointment should also be investigated. She urged that the ambassador be placed on special leave until the matter was resolved.
Botha also sent a letter to Dlamini-Zuma accusing the Minister of callousness.
"The inability or unwillingness of your department to resolve this case speedily, shows a callous disregard by your department and by the South African government of the nature of gender disputes," the letter read.
- SAPA