Staff Reporter.
International relations and co-operation director-general Kgabo Mohoai has been placed on precautionary suspension after the department spent R118m of taxpayers’ money on a piece of land in New York that did not exist.
The purchased property was meant to be used by the South African Diplomatic Mission to the United Nations and the Consulate General in New York.
Minister Naledi Pandor sent a letter to staffers declaring the move about Mohoai, saying this does not constitute a judgment on his part.
Ambassador Nonceba Losi will be acting in the position “until further notice”, said Pandor.
A December 2019 fact-finding mission by the parliamentary portfolio committee on international relations and co-operation found that a piece of land meant to house diplomats that had been paid for did not exist.
In a report dated March 2020, the MPs who sit on the portfolio committee said they embarked on the mission to New York after realising that the R118m spent on the piece of land was most likely fruitless and wasteful expenditure.
The MPs that formed part of the delegation to New York included Tandi Mahambehlala of the ANC who is also the chairperson, Terrence Mpanza (ANC), Xola Nqola (ANC), Mergan Chetty (DA) and Thembi Msane (EFF).
The delegation found no vacant piece of land and only an old dilapidated building where the land was supposed to be despite the fact that the money have already being paid.
“The amount of R118m was noted to have been paid on the basis of a misrepresentation to the department that the real estate agent has bought land to build a suitable and sustainable office building,” the report read.
“The supply chain management challenges associated with the New York pilot project are a source of diplomatic embarrassment and posed both representational and reputational risk to the image of the country.”
The delegation said there was likelihood of wrongdoing and recommended an investigation by the department and that those involved face consequences.