Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
"It is highly irresponsible of the National Party to have turned the bogus kidnapping of a foreign diplomat's son into a party-political issue, thereby severely damaging South Africa's international reputation", Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad said in Pretoria today.
The Deputy Minister said that it was equally preposterous to suggest that South Africa was not honouring its commitments to the Vienna Convention. "The South African Government, as host to over 124 foreign diplomatic missions, recognises its responsibility to ensure the safety and security of foreign diplomats". In fact, the Department of Foreign Affairs, together with the South African Police Services, has been in close consultation with representatives of the diplomatic corps in an effort to bolster the security of foreign diplomats. "We are naturally concerned about recent incidents involving diplomats and have done everything possible to address their concerns. However, it is most disconcerting to find resources of the SAPS were wasted on the bogus kidnapping in Zeerust yesterday. We are nevertheless delighted that the young boy is safe and back with his family", Deputy Minister Pahad said.
The expedient manner in which the crime issue was being exploited was a cause for very serious concern, the Deputy Minister added.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
PRETORIA
7 MAY 1999