Marion Edmunds
The Department of Foreign Affairs is to adapt its definition of the ‘family’ to suit the new South Africa. Before 1994, diplomats living in overseas missions recieved certain allowances for their ”dependants” or children. Now Foreign Affairs wants to change the definition of ”dependants” to make it possible to include members of the extended family in diplomatic households, at taxpayers’ expense.
Already, the South African taxpayer is paying a little extra to look after members of the extended family of three newly appointed ambassadors. In response to questions put in Parliament by Democratic Party MP Colin Eglin, Foreign Affairs Minister Alfred Nzo said this week that the Ambassador to Paris, Barbara Masekela, had included two nephews in her household, Ambassador Lindiwe Mabuza had her neice with her in Bonn and the High Commissioner in Windhoek, Stanley Mabuzela is looking after his grandchild at taxpayers’ expense.
Foreign Affairs spokesperson Clara Kieserwetter confirmed that the department had approached the Public Service to change the rules to make this possible. However, she said that the change in rule would not mean carte blanche for all relatives of diplomats. She said that every case would be decided on its merits and, in these cases, the ambassadors concerned had been looking after the children as if they were their own before they were appointed to overseas posts.