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The DA calls for the immediate recalling and suspension of South African Ambassador to Japan, Ms Mohau Pheko, pending an inquiry for misrepresenting her qualifications. President Jacob Zuma, as the appointing authority on diplomatic posts, must act in this regard to avoid any more international embarrassment.

I have today written to the Portfolio Committee Chairperson for International Relations and Cooperation, requesting that this inquiry be set in motion without delay.

A Financial Mail investigation has found that Ambassador Pheko lied about receiving a PhD in International Relations in 2000 from LaSalle University in Louisiana in the United States. It has been confirmed that this fly-by-night University was shut down for selling degrees in 1996.

The authenticity of Pheko’s CV was initially flagged by the Canadian government in 2010 when she was appointed by President Jacob Zuma as the new ambassador-designate to that country. Instead of acting on her fraudulent conduct, the President and DIRCO rewarded Ms Pheko with a diplomatic post to Japan.

This is an international embarrassment that compromises the integrity of our nation’s economic and diplomatic ties with both Japan and Canada.

This is also not the first time Ms Pheko has faced allegations of acting fraudulently, having previously being fired for plagiarism by the Sunday Times during her time as a columnist.

President Zuma must act swiftly to protect the integrity of our relationship with Japan and Canada.

Nothing less than a full parliamentary inquiry into this international blunder is needed to consider not only Ms Pheko’s conduct, but that of the Presidency and DIRCO as well, given that government has turned a blind eye to this issue for several years.

Issued by DA