Haitian embassy to have assets returned
PRETORIA: The embassy of Haiti in South Africa is to have its movable assets returned after the high court in Pretoria yesterday overturned an earlier order allowing its assets to be attached and stored, pending the outcome of a rent dispute.
Haitian ambassador Stephan D’Ennery Dejoie was surprised a week-and-a-half ago when the sheriff entered the embassy in Waterkloof armed with a court order.
While Dejoie was entertaining several ambassadors from other countries, the sheriff attached the furniture and other assets belonging to his embassy.
This followed an urgent and behind-closed-doors application from the widow of property mogul Tami Sokutu.
Nosisi Sokutu claimed the embassy owed her about R550 000 in rent arrears. She brought the urgent application without notifying the embassy as she feared it would possibly hide its assets.
Counsel for the embassy argued at length that it enjoyed diplomatic immunity. Dejoie, in a statement before court, said this not only tarnished his and the embassy’s good reputation, but caused an embarrassment to him. It was also unlawful.
Dejoie gave the court the assurance that the embassy fully planned to adhere to its obligations regarding the rent.
He said he had been in correspondence throughout with Tami Sokutu, while he was still alive, regarding the rent and how much should be deducted for repairs. The court was told that the embassy upgraded the premises, which according to the ambassador were in a state of disrepair when he moved in.
He said the agreement was that the embassy would, from August, again pay the full rental of R55 000 a month and that the previous few months’ rental would be used towards the work done at the premises.
According to Dejoie, Sokutu’s widow was fully aware of the agreement.
Judge Peter Mabuse yesterday discharged the attachment order without giving reasons.
Attorney Rob Hardam, acting for the embassy, said he and Mario Coetzee, acting for the landlord, would take instructions from their clients as to the way forward.