Why is suspended Ambassador Yusuf Saloojee back at his post in Oman?

The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, must urgently explain why Ambassador Yusuf Saloojee is reportedly back at his post in Oman.

Ambassador Yusuf Saloojee is alleged to have received a bribe of US$200 000 in return for assisting the MTN Group (Ltd) to secure a second mobile operating license in Iran. 

The MTN Group (Ltd) allegedly made a payment of US$200 000 to property attorneys Gildenhuys Lessing Malatji Inc. on 26 April 2007 towards the purchase of a home for the ambassador in South Africa.

Ambassador Saloojee was suspended pending the outcome of an investigation being conducted by Nyameko Goso, a chief director in the internal audit division of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.

A reply to a parliamentary question, received on 17 October 2012, confirmed that the investigation into Ambassador Yusuf Saloojee was "still in progress".

However, Ambassador Saloojee's suspension has apparently been lifted and he is back at his post serving as South Africa's ambassador to Oman.

Ambassador Saloojee is believed to have claimed that his suspension has been lifted and that his name has been cleared. 

However, Department of International Relations and Cooperation spokesperson Clayson Monyela apparently claims that, although the Ambassador's suspension has been lifted, he is still being investigated.

One would think that Ambassador Saloojee would not have been allowed to take up his post as South Africa's ambassador to Oman if he was being investigated for allegedly taking a US$200 000 bribe from the MTN Group (Ltd).

We need to get to the bottom of why it is that the Ambassador was allowed to return to his post in Oman.

I will therefore be submitting parliamentary questions to the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, to determine:

• Why Ambassador Yusuf Saloojee's suspension was lifted by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation;
• why Ambassador Yusuf Saloojee was allowed to return to his post as South Africa's ambassador to Oman; and
• the current state of the investigation by the Department's internal audit division into Ambassador Yusuf Saloojee.

There is something wrong here. The Minister must tell us what is going on.

Statement issued by David Maynier MP, DA Shadow Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, October 22 2012

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