A member of South Africa’s observer mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo has been sent home, the leader of the mission and Deputy Minister of Defence Mluleki George said on Tuesday.
George said the man, who belongs to the South African NGO Coalition (Sangoco), had breached the mission’s code of conduct.
George had been handed a report about the member’s ”inappropriate behaviour”, which included drunkenness on duty and refusal to cooperate with the team he was part of.
George met the man who expressed a desire to be released from his duties, a statement from the mission read.
Attempts to find out the man’s name were at first unsuccessful.
”We do not have the right to name him … If Sangoco wants to divulge his name they can do it,” said Lindo Nkomonde, on behalf of the mission.
Sangoco’s spokesperson Hassan Lorgat reluctantly released the name of former political prisoner Patrick Baleka, saying the organisation will also investigate the allegations of misconduct.
Lorgat said Sangoco had requested that Baleka be sent home after rumours of his behaviour surfaced. — Sapa