South African diplomats in London will not be subjected to lie-detector tests to find out who leaked information about the recall of a senior official, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday.
” … We do not believe that any of our diplomatic staff in London would have leaked the information since it was already in the public domain,” said foreign affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa.
In terms of British diplomatic practice, it was expected the matter would be tabled in Parliament when it would arouse media and public interest.
It would have been proper for the media to contact the Department of Foreign Affairs or the High Commissioner in London, Lindiwe Mabuza, to determine the veracity of the allegations before printing the story, Mamoepa said.
” … The suggestion that diplomatic staff at the South African High Commission may take lie-detector tests to determine the source of the so-called leak remains thunder and lightning signifying nothing,” he said.
The diplomat’s 16-year-old son was apparently sent back to South Africa after allegedly holding a youth at knife-point and stealing his MP3 player.
His 12-year-old son was reportedly also sent home after allegedly taking a ”spray gun” to school.
Mamoepa said the decision to recall the diplomat was made following ”consultations” between the South African and British governments.
It was based on ”the need to strengthen the excellent bilateral relations between the two countries”, he said.
”Secondly, the decision was made in consultation with the senior diplomat and in his best interests.”
Mamoepa reiterated that the diplomat was not accused of involvement in any of the transgressions allegedly committed by his sons.
”It is against this background that the affected senior diplomat will return to his post in Pretoria upon his return from London,” he said. — Sapa