S’bu Ndebele‚ South Africa’s High Commissioner to Australia‚ remains in his position despite reports to the contrary‚ the Department of International Relations and Cooperation said on Thursday.
The department made this comment in reaction to a report in the Sowetan on Wednesday‚ which indicated that Ndebele had been recalled from his diplomatic posting.
Ndebele‚ the former transport minister‚ appeared in the Durban Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in December on a charge of corruption related to the awarding of the eNaTIS contract. Ndebele was granted bail of R10‚000 and the case was postponed until July 20‚ when he will join four other men and four companies also accused in the case when it continues in Pretoria.
His name came up in an application by the transport department to set aside the eNatis contract that was awarded to Tasima in 2010.
In its heads of argument filed with the court‚ the transport department said Ndebele “was most recently recalled as a result of the indictment“.
“On 15 December 2015 the erstwhile Minister of Transport (having been recalled from Canberra) was similarly charged in Durban‚” the heads of argument filed by the transport department read.
This was denied by Dirco on Thursday‚ which stated: “The Department wishes to place it on record that High Commissioner Ndebele remains in his position and that he is performing his official duties as Head of Mission in the Australian capital‚ Canberra.”
When the matter was heard on Tuesday‚ Clayson Monyela‚ International Relations and Cooperation Department spokesman‚ would not confirm nor deny his recall.
“You’re saying another department has revealed [Ndebele’s recalling] in court papers‚ [so] why are you coming to us? Quote what the court document[s] say‚” he told Sowetan.
S'bu Ndebele still South Africa's high commissioner to Australia: Government
S’bu Ndebele‚ South Africa’s High Commissioner to Australia‚ remains in his position despite reports to the contrary‚ the Department of International Relations and Cooperation said on Thursday.
The department made this comment in reaction to a report in the Sowetan on Wednesday‚ which indicated that Ndebele had been recalled from his diplomatic posting.
Ndebele‚ the former transport minister‚ appeared in the Durban Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in December on a charge of corruption related to the awarding of the eNaTIS contract. Ndebele was granted bail of R10‚000 and the case was postponed until July 20‚ when he will join four other men and four companies also accused in the case when it continues in Pretoria.
His name came up in an application by the transport department to set aside the eNatis contract that was awarded to Tasima in 2010.
In its heads of argument filed with the court‚ the transport department said Ndebele “was most recently recalled as a result of the indictment“.
“On 15 December 2015 the erstwhile Minister of Transport (having been recalled from Canberra) was similarly charged in Durban‚” the heads of argument filed by the transport department read.
This was denied by Dirco on Thursday‚ which stated: “The Department wishes to place it on record that High Commissioner Ndebele remains in his position and that he is performing his official duties as Head of Mission in the Australian capital‚ Canberra.”
When the matter was heard on Tuesday‚ Clayson Monyela‚ International Relations and Cooperation Department spokesman‚ would not confirm nor deny his recall.
“You’re saying another department has revealed [Ndebele’s recalling] in court papers‚ [so] why are you coming to us? Quote what the court document[s] say‚” he told Sowetan.
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