Staff Reporter.
The international relations and co-operation department (Dirco) has confirmed that “several” foreign diplomats have been declared “persona non grata”.
Dirco took the decision because the diplomats “were found guilty of engaging in illicit trade in duty-free alcohol” following an intensive investigation into their flouting of diplomatic privileges, read in a statement.
This follows an intensive investigation that found them guilty of engaging in illicit trade in duty-free alcohol.
At the time, they justified their actions, saying they were making up for the shortages in their salaries.
Dirco said investigations into similar transgressions by other missions accredited to South Africa were “at an advanced stage and similar action will be taken should they be found guilty”.
On Thursday, the Lesotho government confirmed diplomats had been expelled from South Africa.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations expressed its disappointment and embarrassment that several Basotho serving at the Lesotho high commission in Pretoria and the Lesotho consulate in Johannesburg were declared unacceptable by South Africa.
While Friday, Malawi’s foreign ministry reported its officers in Pretoria have been dismissed on similar grounds.
Malawi’s foreign ministry expressed “regret” that “Malawian diplomats…have been declared persona non grata” by South Africa.
It vowed disciplinary action when the officers return home.
In April, media reports surfaced that the SA Revenue Service (SARS) had uncovered a scam that foreign diplomats were buying large volumes of alcohol at duty-free retailers and selling it locally.
Diplomats from Rwanda, Lesotho, Ghana, Guinea, Malawi and Burundi were implicated in the tax-dodging scam.