NEWS
SA ambassadors under the spotlight
Three of South Africa's ambassadors abroad have been investigated for "unbecoming behaviour", Foreign Affairs Director-General Sipho Pityana said on Wednesday. The three were investigated on various charges including sexual harassment and insubordination. The case against one of them is pending, for the second a written warning was recommended, against which he is appealing, and the third is appealing a recommendation for dismissal. Pityana would not disclose their identities. "We are not at liberty to divulge the particulars of the individuals concerned or specifics of charges they may have faced. As soon as these processes have been finalised we will make these decisions public." Some of the cases stemmed from complaints from within the department and some from outside. "For instance, the sexual harassment allegation against one of the diplomats was lodged by someone not working for the embassy. This particular case will be dealt with as a complaint from a member of the public and constitutes misconduct on the part of the officer if so proven." A draft code of conduct had been sent to South Africa's ambassadors for comment, but, meanwhile, they were bound by the South African public service code of conduct. Asked if the three ambassadors were suspended or retained their positions during the investigations, Pityana said: "In diplomatic terms, they were called for consultation but not suspended as in the meaning of the word. "Regarding the present cases, if South Africa would have withdrawn the three men, it would have been making a political statement to a country they were deployed to." Pityana said there were also junior foreign diplomats being pursued for misbehaviour but did not give further details.

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