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International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane
The contents of International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane's handbag are not up for discussion, her spokesman said on Friday.
“I can't believe you are asking that,” Clayson Monyela said when asked why she recently refused to have her handbag scanned at an airport in Norway.
“It's not an issue we want to debate... She was strong and defended her principle, and we have moved on from there.”
Monyela said the Vienna Convention exempted diplomats from luggage searches at airports, and the minister - as the country's top diplomat - was right to stand her ground.
“At every airport, no diplomats are searched. This is why she refused.”
The minister's handbag drama in Norway cost South African taxpayers more than R200,000.
Nkoana-Mashabane, who was on a state visit to that country earlier this month, refused to have her bag passed through an X-ray scanner at an airport in Oslo, the Mail & Guardian reported.
As a result, she missed her scheduled commercial flight to her next diplomatic engagement in Bulgaria. A private-charter executive jet, which cost R235,343, was then hired to transport her.
It was unclear what she was carrying in her handbag and why she was keen to avoid security screening.
The Democratic Alliance and the Freedom Front Plus expressed outrage over the incident.
DA spokeswoman Lindiwe Mazibuko said Nkoana-Mashabane should pay back the money out of her own pocket.
“Yet again, ordinary South Africans have had to foot the bill for the vanity and excesses of those who are meant to be public servants.
“Government ministers should be subject to the same security regulations as every other airline passenger, and there should be no provision that allows members of the executive to bill the public for their superiority complexes.”
The DA also wanted her to reimburse her department for the cost of the flight she missed, as it resulted in her missing the meeting in Bulgaria.
“It is time for members of our government to understand that they are not more important than the citizens they serve,” Mazibuko said in a statement.
“The handbag incident underscores just how out of touch this government is with the economic realities of the majority of South Africans.”
FFPlus spokesman Corné Mulder said the minister could have handled the situation differently.
“It is absurd that South Africa has to waste money because the minister insisted on her right to diplomatic immunity,” he said in a statement.
“She could have seen to it that her political counterpart in Oslo was contacted immediately to resolve the situation.”
She should have allowed her handbag through the scanner so as to not miss her flight, said Mulder.
He asked why the South African embassy in Oslo had not made prior arrangements to prevent the “embarrassing and expensive” situation. - Sapa
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Charlie , wrote
The comment "i cant belive you are asking that" says it all. and extra R240 000 wastage of tax payer money and...'they cant believe' how someone can ask a question about this expense? At the end of the day their voters are not the one footing the bill, and they do not hear abt these incidents. Also, note how any really out of favour comrade gets deployed to an ambassador position.....so much for being higher than the avg citizens.
Spish, wrote
I think it is good that the minister refused to be searched as she is exempt from being searched as the country's top diplomat, however I believe that the authorities in Oslo should reimburse the South African government as it was them who were in breach of international protocol regarding the searching of diplomats. Therefore our government should demand reimbursement from whoever was responsible for insisting on searching our top diplomat!!!!
Fhatuwani Daniel Nesamari, wrote
Every one should follow security policy and procedures of the country that heshe visits. If your in Rome do what the Romans do.
Anonymous, wrote
I believe there was another Cabinet minister or the wife of one who was engaged in drug trafficking. I think the Government should either search its people itself and take responsibility if they are caught or voluntarily give up this immunity for all their people. There can be little doubt that the Norwegian authorities had been tipped off about her otherwise they wouldnt have made an incident out of it .
Jezza, wrote
Is she a diplomat? If so, she would not have been in a situation where a search was required and she should know this. Unless, of course, she made a scene using the new SA attitude approach which does not go down well anywhere, especially not in an airport. Nobody, not even diplomats, are totally above the law. She probably created the problem herself and now is discovering the big bad world of reality.
Anonymous, wrote
That is a dumb rule. Diplomats are people just like everyone else and if they travel through public places that must be humble enough to go through the security checks every one is submitted to. They must be examples for us to follow. If they are using military transport, then they can adhere to the convention.
Anonymous, wrote
What makes her so special. She is supposed to be an ambassador for our country. Far be it from one of our self important, self indulgent representatives to tow the line. These people from the ANC go out of their way to show they are clearly untouchable.
stupid, wrote
And that means 5 less RDP houses are to be built for your voters, idiots. when are you going back to school?
Rons, wrote
If she had nothing to Hide then why refuse to scan her bag - very big Ego and arrogant - the scanning could have taken a couple of minutes - that's all - she could have laid a report later and then demand an apology from the authorities - now you have costed the taxpayer a quarter of a million rand - shows how careless and arrogant these govt personal are - they don't care - millions are living in shacks with no basic amenities - but here you have wastage of public monies in this bad economic climate - are they not aware of what is going on - - SHE MUST PAY this cost from her own salary - If this guy Monyela takes this so lightly he should pay on her behalf
Charl Strydom, wrote
Some how they do not forget appartheid but you must forget what they do, spend the countries money!
Traveller, wrote
This is definitely not about Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane. This is a slap on the face of South Africans. The reaction would be the same if any other diplomat would have been subjected to the same treatment in SA. There are protocols in place and every country needs to adhere to these protocols. The DA should stop trying to make political milage out of anything and everything. If they don't know how diplomacy works ask Tony Leon. He might be able to give thme a lesson or two.
Ryan, wrote
it is disgusting that minister Maite would rather have South African taxpayers pay an additional couple of hundred thousand rand to charter a flight for her than to x-ray her bag !!!!!! typical of the ANC gravy train
Dukie 743, wrote
Like Gaddafi and his excesses, these ANC people are out of control. There could have been drugs in her bag.
WTF, wrote
Easy to stand up for "principle" when it nets you a seat on an executive jet and someone else pays the bill. She should have been made to wait in the airport lounge for the next scheduled flight, like the people who voted for her and paid the taxes she wasted do. Typical ANC slimeball.
Grant P, wrote
These animals MUST answer to the SA taxpayer - who the F**K do they think they are??????????????
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