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The director general of international relations and cooperation, Kgabo Mohoai, was placed on preventive suspension after the department spent 118 million rand of taxpayers’ money on land in New York that did not exist.
TimesLIVE has seen a letter dated February 12 sent by Minister Naledi Pandor to staff confirming Mohoai’s suspension.
Pandor spokesperson Lunga Ngqengelele confirmed the authenticity of the letter, which read: “Please note that the CEO, Mr. KE Mohoai, has been placed on precautionary suspension with effect from February 11, 2021.
“This is an injunction that does not constitute a trial,” Pandor wrote.
Ambassador Nonceba Losi will serve in office “until further notice,” Pandor said.
A fact-finding mission carried out in December 2019 by the parliamentary portfolio committee on international relations and cooperation discovered that a piece of land intended to house diplomats that had been paid for did not exist.
In a report dated March 2020, MPs who are on the portfolio committee said they embarked on the mission to New York after realizing that the R118m spent on the ground was likely a wasteful and wasteful expense.
MPs who were part of the delegation to New York included Tandi Mahambehlala of the ANC who is also the chair, Terrence Mpanza (ANC), Xola Nqola (ANC), Mergan Chetty (DA) and Thembi Msane (EFF).
The delegation found no vacant land and only an old dilapidated building where the land was supposed to be despite the fact that the 118 million rand had already been paid.
“It was observed that the amount of R118m was paid on the basis of a misrepresentation to the department that the real estate agent had bought land to build a suitable and sustainable office building,” the report read.
“The supply chain management challenges associated with the New York pilot project are a source of diplomatic embarrassment and pose both representative and reputational risks to the country’s image.”
The delegation said there was a possibility of wrongdoing and recommended an investigation by the department and that those involved face consequences.
Ngqengelele confirmed that Mohoai was suspended to allow the investigation to take place.
“I confirm that the DG was placed on provisional suspension to allow the investigation process to take place. As the minister said in her letter to the staff, this does not constitute a trial, but only a precautionary measure, “said Ngqengelele.
TimesLIVE
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