SA High Commissioner to Ghana in hot waters

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Parliament has called International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane to answer to the department's portfolio committee on an investigation into a leasing issue involving South Africa's high commissioner Jeanette Ndhlovu to Ghana.

The party submitted a question recently asking for clarity on the probe into Ndhlovu's conduct regarding a leasing deal for new premises for the country's high commission in Ghana.

Media reports revealed in November last year that the government had sent a “highly confidential” letter to Ndhlovu demanding explanations for a string of questionable leasing deals, including the alleged payment of $720,000 ( approximately R7,2 million) in advance rental on new embassy premises without the required authority or budget.

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation subsequently launched an investigation.

The DA’s Stevens Mokgalapa says he's far from satisfied with the ministry's response.

“The reply that I got was that the investigation is ongoing and they cannot divulge the action taken. This is unacceptable because it’s not something that happened yesterday or last month.”