Angella Johnson
AN investigation has been ordered into allegations by a female foreign journalist that she was sexually harassed by a member of Deputy President Thabo Mbeki’s office.
Suzanne Daley, a correspondent on the New York Times, has made a number of allegations that Ricky Naidoo, press officer to Mbeki, attempted to sexually harass her in return for setting up an interview with his boss.
Daley, who is married, has written a letter of complaint which is being investigated by Frank Chikane, head of Mbeki’s office. But she refused to detail the exact nature of the harassment.
“I really don’t want to talk about it except to confirm that I have written a letter,” she said.
Naidoo on the other hand is furious. “These are malicious allegations and as far as I am concerned there is no truth to them whatsoever,” he said.
Mojanku Gumbi, a legal adviser to Mbeki’s office said the matter was being investigated under the Public Service Act.