Dirco DG fired over New York land fiasco
International Relations & Co-operation DG Kgabo Mahoai has been fired. In a statement on Friday evening, the department said the decision followed the conclusion of a disciplinary case against him.
‘Mahoai faced charges related to irregular expenditure incurred by the department on an unsuccessful project to purchase a piece of land in New York for purposes of constructing premises to accommodate SA’s Permanent Mission to the UN and New York Consulate,’ Dirco said in a statement.
A TimesLIVE report says Nonceba Losi will continue to act as the Dirco DG.
Dirco Minister Naledi Pandor had placed Mohoai on precautionary suspension after the department spent R118m of taxpayers' money on a piece of land in New York that did not exist.
A December 2019 fact-finding mission by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on International Relations & Co-operation found no vacant land, only an old dilapidated building where the land was supposed to be, despite the R118m having already being paid.
Article disclaimer: While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is not intended to provide final legal advice as facts and situations will differ from case to case, and therefore specific legal advice should be sought with a lawyer.
