‘Fraudster’ diplomat gets top job

South Africa’s former ambassador to Brazil, Mbulelo Rakwena, was promoted to his current position as chief director for Latin America in the department of foreign affairs in 2005 despite damning allegations of financial mismanagement and maladministration. The accusations are made in two separate documents — a 2002/03 Auditor General’s report and a four-page internal memorandum compiled in September last year by Mkhuseli Apleni, the Deputy Director General in the corporate services department. 

Rakwena’s promotion was sanctioned despite the highly critical auditor’s report, which found that he had contravened the Public Finance Management Act when he was ambassador from 1998 to 2004.  

Among other things, the Auditor General’s 37-page report finds that official donations, which were made at Rakwena’s request, were instead transferred into his private bank accounts. 

Among them is a $20 000 payment from AngloGold that was meant to bankroll jazz artist Sibongile Khumalo’s performance in Brazil for the 10th anniversary of South Africa’s democracy.

According to Botsang Moiloa, then head of management at the embassy, the money was paid into Rakwena’s account, but Khumalo was never formally invited and did not perform. The Mail & Guardian is in possession of the e-mail correspondence between Rakwena and AngloGold in which Rakwena acknowledges receiving the money in his private account.

The report also criticises Rakwena for installing a sauna at his residence, despite the request for official costs being turned down. Instead of incurring the costs himself, Rakwena billed his office for the private expenses, invoicing them as ”repairs to the official residence”.

Furthermore, the report found rampant fraudulent practises with regards to claims on ”hotel, restaurant and bar services”.

The report also notes the abuse of education allowances, where ”payments in respect of education allowances were not supported by substantiating documentation”.

Allegations against Rakwena date back to 2001, when Moiloa first reported him to Tom Wheeler, who was then chief director of Latin America at foreign affairs. Wheeler, who has since retired and is now the head of the South African Institute of International Affairs, told the M&G that Moiloa did complain about Rakwena and that he directed him to Ndumiso Ntshinga, then the deputy director general for the Americas.

Moiloa told the M&G that Ntshinga insisted that he compile a report. However, instead of dealing with the allegations made in the report, Ntshinga subsequently accused Moiloa of ”lying through his teeth and backstabbing his friend”. Ntshinga also accused Moiloa of ”reporting Rakwena to white people”. 

Moiloa was fired from his job early this year and is challenging the department for unfair dismissal at the state’s mediation body, the CCMA.

He was fired after being accused of dishonesty because he wrote his exams at Unisa without an invigilator.

Foreign affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa confirmed that the department was investigating the allegations against Rakwena, but refused to divulge when the investigation was started, who was heading it and when it is likely to be completed.

Mamoepa also defended Rakwena’s promotion to chief director, saying: ”Does a person need to be disadvantaged on the basis of allegations and a report?”

When approached for comment Rakwena said it would not be appropriate for him to comment on the matter in the media.