After being found guilty of selling duty-free alcohol, Malawian diplomats in South Africa have been expelled from Pretoria.
Bunnaj Africa learnt that 12 diplomats at the Lesotho mission in Pretoria were removed for a similar offense.
The Malawi High Commission’s embassy staff has been accused of importing alcohol and selling it to bars and restaurants without paying duty. The diplomats were given 72 hours to leave the country.
“All diplomats at the Malawi mission in Pretoria have been expelled from South Africa after being declared persona non-grata,” reports emerged.
In a statement issued on Friday, South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) revealed the diplomats had been “declared persona non-grata for flouting their diplomatic privileges.”
“The diplomats were found guilty of engaging in illicit trade in duty-free alcohol. This decision was taken in line with the Vienna Convention of 1961. The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 is fundamental to the conduct of foreign relations and ensures that diplomats conduct their duties without threat or influence by the host government.”
“However, where such privileges are abused, the host country is obliged to take the necessary action in line with the convention.”
“The affected diplomats are expected to relinquish their diplomatic status by returning all the necessary diplomatic tools to South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation,” the statement said.
More heads are likely to roll at other embassies suspected of participating in similar actions.
“Investigations of similar transgressions by other missions accredited to South Africa are at an advanced stage and similar action will be taken should they be found guilty,” DIRCO said.
Bunnaj Africa was able to gathered that the diplomatic tensions between South Africa and Malawi have been high since November 2020. South Africa suspected Lilongwe’s involvement in smuggling popular cleric Shepherd Bushiri out of the country.
Prophet Bushiri was arrested and was set to stand trial on accusations of money laundering and theft involving millions of dollars before fleeing the country in violation of his bail conditions.
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