Diplomatic muddle over Ndebele recall

CAPE TOWN — Former transport minister Sbu Ndebele’s term as high commissioner to Australia could end as soon as Friday, a highly placed source told Business Day on Monday.

However, there is buckpassing behind the scenes between the Presidency and the Department of International Relations and Co-operation over which of the departments would call time on Ndebele’s posting.

Ndebele is set to face fraud and corruption charges in December over a R10m bribe he allegedly received from businesses linked to Tasima, the operator of the electronic National Administration Traffic Information System, in 2010 to extend the eNatis contract.

Ndebele’s recall has been on the agenda since May. The source, who asked not to be named because of the sensitive nature of the matter and because they were not authorised to speak on the subject, said Ndebele’s time as high commissioner was due to end on Friday.

The Presidency and the department refused to confirm or deny whether Ndebele would be recalled on Friday. Both said recalling the high commissioner was the other’s responsibility.

International Relations and Co-operation spokesman Clayson Monyela told Business Day on Monday that the pending court case against Ndebele and how it would affect his work were receiving attention.

However, Monyela said recalling an ambassador or high commissioner was the prerogative of the Presidency. International Relations would not

A good example of how a diplomat could be an embarrassment to SA if he stayed

presume to announce such an action on President Jacob Zuma’s behalf.

Presidency spokesman Bongani Ngqulunga on Monday told Business Day that while the president appointed envoys, the Department of International Relations and Co-operation was responsible for the goings-on at diplomatic missions.

“The Department of International Relations and Co-operation should be the one answering whether they have recalled him or not. The work of ambassadors and diplomats falls under the responsibility of that department,” said Ngqulunga.

Independent analyst and former diplomat Tom Wheeler said Ndebele’s case could be “a good example of how a diplomat could be an embarrassment to SA if he stayed” in office.

“It’s difficult because you have identified that the president signs off on the letters of credence but after that the high commissioner reports to [the Department of International Relations and Co-operation]. It is difficult to say what happens next but there has to be a compelling reason for him to be recalled,” said Wheeler.

Monyela would not comment on the protocol or process of recalling a diplomat in the context of Ndebele as no pronouncement had yet been made by the president to recall him.