Ten compromised South African diplomats

1996: Carl Niehaus appointed ambassador to The Netherlands. He would later claim he obtained a doctorate in theology at the University of Utrecht in 1999, while ambassador. However, it was revealed in the press that he did not get the doctorate. He was forced to resign as ANC spokesman in 2009.

2001: Norman Mashabane, ambassador to Indonesia. Mashabane (then-husband to Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, currently the minister of international relations) was found guilty of 22 counts of sexual harassment between 2001 and 2003. Nevertheless, then-foreign affairs minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma upheld his appeal. A court later found she should have fired him. He worked in the foreign affairs department until his contract expired in 2004. He died in a car crash in 2007.

2004: Yusuf Saloojee

appointed ambassador to Iran. He was suspended on full pay in 2012 after it was alleged he got a bribe of $200 000 in return for helping the MTN Group to secure a mobile operating licence in Iran. In 2013, he was cleared, with MTN, of wrongdoing by a commission set up by the company.

2010: Jon Qwelane appointed high commissioner to Uganda. Made several homophobic statements. His term ended last year. On his departure, it was alleged the high commission was “fraught with corruption and ineptitude”.

2010: Ebrahim Rasool, the former Western Cape premier and ANC provincial leader, appointed ambassador to the US. He had been caught up in a cash-for-good-news scandal involving two journalists of the Cape Argus.

It was alleged bribes had been paid for positive coverage of the provincial government.

2011: Miriam Segabutla appointed ambassador to Cuba. The public protector issued a damning report into her conduct as health MEC in Limpopo. It was alleged she awarded as much as R16million in contracts to friends and associates. As she was no longer an MEC, it was deemed action could not be taken against her.

2011: Lassy Chiwayo appointed consul-general to China. In 2013, he was recalled after reports he was seen walking naked in the streets outside the Shanghai consulate. The department said in a statement: “Whilst on official duty in China he experienced health-related challenges which necessitated the termination of his posting . . . He is receiving professional assistance from relevant units in the department.”

2013: Zanele Makina appointed high commissioner to Cameroon. It was reported this year that Makina owed the Department of International Relations R390 000 for a stay at the Hilton Hotel in the capital, Yaoundé. She spiked the bill, however, and was reported missing for several weeks. The department claimed in response that she was, in fact, on the job.

2014: Bruce Koloane appointed ambassador to The Netherlands. Koloane was responsible for a private plane owned by the Gupta family landing at Air Force Base Waterkloof. After an inquiry, he was demoted to the position of liaison officer.

2015: Mohau Pheko, ambassador to Japan, misrepresented her CV. She claimed to have a PhD but it was found she never completed her studies. She said she regretted the deception. — Gareth van

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