Allegations of Sexual Misconduct, Corruption and other forms of Misconduct regarding Staff of the Department of Foreign Affairs

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NO 1003

PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 35 OF 5 NOVEMBER 2004

Mr LB Labuschagne (DA) to ask the Minster of Foreign Affairs:

(a) How many
(i) allegations involving (aa) sexual misconduct, (bb) corruption and / or other forms of misconduct concerning permanent and contract staff of her department were made in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004, respectively,
(ii) of the allegations have been (aa) investigated and (bb) finalised and
(iii) investigations (aa) are outstanding and (bb) have been outstanding for more than three months and (b) what were the results of the investigations for the years 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004, respectively? N1468E

REPLY:

(a)

(i) (aa) The Department recorded the following with regard to the cases involving the allegations of sexual harassment:

• 2001: 2 cases
• 2002: no cases reported
• 2003: 2 cases
• 2004: no cases reported

(bb) The Department recorded the following numbers with regard to the cases involving corruption:

• 2001: 1 case
• 2002: 1 case
• 2003: 2 cases
• 2004: 7 cases

(cc) With regard to the number of other forms of misconduct including misconduct cases mentioned in paragraphs (aa) and (bb) above, the Department recorded the following:

• Financial year 2001/2002: 9 cases
• Financial year 2002/2003: 9 cases
• Financial year 2003/2004: 12 cases
• Financial year 2004/2005 (year not completed): 24 cases

(ii) (aa) All the allegations involving allegations of sexual misconduct have been investigated and finalised.

(bb) The Department is currently investigating three cases of corruption against the officials and two investigations have been finalised.

(iii) (aa) No outstanding investigations involving allegations of sexual misconduct.

(bb) Currently there is no investigation that involves allegations of corruption that has been outstanding for three months.

(b) With regard to the investigations that were conducted by the Department on the cases involving corruption, the following was recorded:

• In 2001, one investigation was conducted and charges of misconduct were preferred against the official.
• In 2002, one investigation was conducted and charges of misconduct were preferred against the official.
• In 2003, two investigations were conducted and charges of misconduct were preferred against the officials involved.
• In 2004, four investigations were finalised and the charges of misconduct were preferred against the officials and three investigations are still conducted.

END