Most troubling of all, when ActionSA inquired about any measures to evaluate the value of these foreign missions,DIRCO responded with a flat “No”. Mashaba noted, "This government is flying blind with taxpayer money."

''At a time of fiscal crisis, ActionSA maintains that government must CUT THE FAT. We reiterate our call for urgent fiscal discipline and demand a comprehensive review of all foreign missions to ensure that every cent spent abroad delivers value for the people back home.''

Adding to the criticism, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has also raised red flags around mismanagement and lack of accountability within DIRCO.

A separate DA parliamentary question uncovered that advocate David Kweli Nkosi, a diplomat now posted to Amman, Jordan, still owes DIRCO nearly R800,000 for damages to rented properties during prior postings in Austria and India.

According to DA deputy spokesperson on International Relations and Cooperation, Ryan Smith, only R10,000 has been paid back, with the department having renegotiated the debt down to R116,615, a move the DA attributes to “departmental inefficiencies".

Smith said: “If advocate Nkosi can trash international rental property twice at the taxpayers’ cost, he can find the money to reimburse the state once-off, following his immediate dismissal.”

Smith slammed the redeployment as a “sordid case of international embarrassment”, adding that DIRCO’s handling of the matter reflects “gross negligence and indifference” by Minister Ronald Lamola.

The DA is calling for Nkosi’s immediate dismissal, full repayment of the debt, and a renewed focus on restoring integrity within South Africa’s foreign service.

hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za

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IOL Politics

foreign missions

ActionSA calls for fiscal discipline as South Africa spends R3. 45 billion on foreign missions