Leadership questioned: Ambassador Nozipho Mxakato-Diseko. (IISD/ENB)
The ambassador who has been accused of spreading fear at South Africa’s embassy at the United Nations in Geneva has been told to reappoint a worker who was dismissed. According to letters seen by the Mail & Guardian, the employment dispute has caused a rift between the embassy and the department of international relations and co-operation (Dirco).
In March this year, a team was sent to Geneva by the department to investigate myriad allegations of mistreatment of staff by ambassador Nozipho Mxakato-Diseko, who heads the embassy in Switzerland and is the ambassador for South Africa at the UN in Geneva.
In February, the M&G reported that Bheki Ntshalintshali, general secretary of labour federation Cosatu, and Mthunzi Mdwaba, the spokesperson for the International Organisation of Employers, which represents government employers and businesses at the UN in Geneva, wrote to former Dirco minister Lindiwe Sisulu. In their letter they expressed “serious concern” about the treatment and working conditions of staff in Geneva.
The letter stated: “We feel this has to be urgently attended to as it has the potential to embarrass our president and country.”
The investigation was completed at the end of March. Two senior Dirco officials and two employees at the Geneva embassy said that one of the findings of the report was for the reinstatement of an employee, Zinhle Nkosi, who was “unceremoniously” fired almost a year ago.
Nkosi, a consular clerk at the embassy, claims she was fired on the spot for not going to work while sick, despite having a doctor’s note excusing her. In her correspondence with Dirco she said she was subjected to a dehumanising, brutal and unfair dismissal. She also wrote to the ambassador, pleading for a reason for her dismissal to be provided.
“This was following a sick leave, which was duly authorised by my doctor on medical grounds … At no point in the urgent meeting was I provided an opportunity to state my case,” reads her letter.
Meanwhile, the deputy to Mxakato-Diseko, Nelia Barnard, and Dirco director general Kgabo Mahoai have been writing strongly worded letters to each other in which they appear to be at odds over the reappointment of Nkosi.
Barnard states in her three-page letter dated June 27: “Mxakato-Diseko has shared with me a letter addressed to [the director general] … entitled ‘reinstatement of Ms Z Nkosi’. While I have not been involved in the legal proceedings after reading this letter, I feel compelled to write to [the director general] in support of the head of mission.”
Barnard cautions that if Nkosi is reinstated without weighing up the labour laws of Switzerland and South Africa, there could be unintended consequences.
The director general then responds to Barnard, informing her that she must follow proper reporting lines, presumably upset by being contacted directly by the deputy.
“I must emphasise that this clear disregard for my office will be discussed with your branch and business unit for further processing.”
Dirco spokesperson Clayson Monyela did not respond to detailed questions asking why senior officials of the department were quarrelling about the reappointment of Nkosi. He simply said that the department is dealing with the issues involving Mxakato-Diseko and staff members, and that the department is satisfied with the work the ambassador was doing.
The firing of Nkosi was the breaking point for some officials at the embassy, who raised questions about Mxakato-Diseko’s leadership.
Staff members alleged that, on one occasion, they were locked in a boardroom for five hours because some officials did not pitch for the meeting. One official said Mxakato-Diseko has turned the embassy into a “fearful gauntlet to run every day”.
When Mxakato-Diseko was contacted for comment regarding the allegations, she referred questions to Dirco, which, at the time, said it would investigate all the allegations.
She has since proceeded with legal action against the M&G and, in papers filed, said no officials were locked up or punished and that everyone knew about the meeting three days in advance.