Iden Wetherell
An understanding of diplomacy, it would seem, is not a requirement for South Africa’s diplomats serving abroad. One based in Harare has made such a nuisance of himself, he faces the rare penalty of being sent home for good.
Jabu Buthelezi is, in fact, an employee of the Department of Home Affairs. But as first secretary at the South African high commission’s consular section in Harare, he is classified as a diplomat.
Buthelezi’s seven-month stay in Harare has not, however, been an entirely happy one. He has fallen out with his neighbours, had a row with the traffic police, been accused of threatening a motorist, and has offended Zimbabwe’s travel industry.
To prevent any further incidents, the high commission has confirmed Buthelezi had been recalled to Pretoria for “consultations”.
Last week the high commission was obliged to report it was not responsible for statements appearing in the press accusing the police of being over- zealous towards South African diplomats caught speeding. Like everybody else, diplomats should obey the law, it said.
Unnamed diplomats had been quoted as complaining that they were not being given the respect they were due by the police. One of them, believed to be Buthelezi, had been caught travelling at 80kph in a 60kph zone and had a row with the police over whether he should be fined.
The episode followed a disastrous meeting between the same diplomat and local travel agents. When they appealed for South Africa to modify its new terms for visa applications, Buthelezi allegedly said he wasn’t going to “take any shit” from the Zimbabweans.
Neighbours say he hasn’t been any more diplomatic in his dealings with them. When a family complained of the noise coming from his house, Buthelezi allegedly told them he would “break every bone in their body” if they complained again.
The same treatment was meted out to Patricia McFadden, a senior programme officer with a research institute. Her mistake was to have flashed her lights at a driver matching Buthelezi’s description. He stopped his car and came over, demanding that she wind down her window.
“His body language was so aggressive, I kept my window up for fear that he would attack me,” she related in a formal complaint to the high commission. “His lack of respect for other drivers, his arrogance and the exhibition of violent, threatening behaviour towards others is certainly cause for concern, especially given that he was driving a diplomatic car.”
High commission representative Victor Msitshwa said the complaints against Buthelezi were being investigated. He said it was not certain whether Buthelezi was the diplomat cited in McFadden’s complaint as there appears to be some doubt about the registration plate.
The high commission has been in close contact with Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs over the issue, Zimbabwean sources confirm, and is seen as anxious to pre-empt any request by Harare for Buthelezi’s removal.
“If he were to be declared persona non grata,” explained a diplomatic observer, “that could lead to tit-for- tat expulsions which nobody wants.”
While any decision to withdraw Buthelezi would need the approval of South Africa’s ministers of home affairs and foreign affairs, that is seen as a formality now.
“The image of the country has been tarnished. It is an embarrassment for South Africa,” the observer said.