The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) has fired its Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Caiphus Ramashau, for his involvement in a botched purchase of property in New York in the United States.
R118 million was paid for a dilapidated building that was supposed to house the offices of South Africa’s New York Consulate and Permanent Mission to the United Nations.
However, the building was never procured.
Director-General Kgabo Mahoai was also fired last month.
He was found guilty of gross negligence and wasteful and irregular spending.
Dirco spokesperson Clayson Monyela says Ramashau was found guilty on similar charges.
“This follows the conclusion of the disciplinary case instituted against him. Mr Ramashau faced charges related to irregular expenditure incurred by the department on an unsuccessful project to purchase a piece of land in New York (USA) to accommodate South Africa’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations and New York Consulate,” explains Monyela.
In an interview with SABC News in February 2021, the Chair of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation Tandi Mahambehlala calls on Minister Naledi Pandor to explain when she is going to implement the recommendations of an oversight report into the irregular expenditure:
