Dirco denies arrest of SA diplomat in Norway

Johannesburg - The international relations department on Tuesday denied claims by the Democratic Alliance that an official at the South African embassy in Norway had been arrested for drunken driving (see press report).

An embassy official was involved in a car accident on Sunday and was hospitalised, spokesperson Nelson Kgwete said.

"The accident is now being investigated by the Norwegian police. The official is co-operating with them. He was injured and taken to hospital. There was no arrest," Kgwete said.

The DA said a diplomat in Oslo had been arrested for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol, causing an accident, and injuring a person.

"It is reported that the diplomat attempted to evade Norwegian police while driving drunk, sped up his diplomatic vehicle and subsequently crashed," DA MP Stevens Mokgalapa said.

He intended asking Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane to suspend and discipline the diplomat.

Kgwete said the department would only comment once police had investigated the matter.

This article first appeared on News24 – see here.