DA welcomes DIRCO bribe probe into Yusuf Saloojee
The Democratic Alliance welcomes the announcement by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, that South Africa's former ambassador to Iran, Ambassador Yusuf Saloojee, is being investigated by the department for allegedly taking a US$200 000 bribe from the MTN Group (Ltd).
The former ambassador allegedly received a bribe payment of US$200 000 in return for assisting MTN to secure a mobile operating license in Iran. MTN 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.
MTN has denied allegations that a bribe was paid to Yusuf Saloojee.
The Minister confirmed today, in a reply to a parliamentary question, that the International Relations and Cooperation Department has instituted an investigation into allegations that Yusuf Saloojee received a payment from MTN.
The Minister also confirmed that the department had not sanctioned any remunerated work by Yusuf Saloojee as would have been required under the Public Service Act (No. 103 of 1994).