DIRCO have kept very quiet over the whole Obed Mlaba saga. He left his position as SA’s High Commissioner in the UK on Friday, amid swirling rumours of corruption and foul play.
They refused to discuss ’employee relationships in public’ with us when approached for comment. However, it has become abundantly clear Mr Mlaba has walked before he was pushed.
As reported in the Sunday Times, he was forced to leave his position after failing the security clearances needed to occupy the top job. He managed to serve from February 2016 onwards, but it was decided he must be recalled when the news hit South African shores.
Who are SABA?
South African Business Abroad are a London-based collective of business people looking to resurrect investor confidence in our country. Naturally, another story like this is counter-productive to what they want to achieve.
Their founder Xolani Xala was dismayed with the conduct of the High Commissioner, labelling him ‘a crook’. He welcomed DIRCO’s decision to dismiss Mlaba, and called for further action to be taken against him:
“SABA have no platform for crooks or dodgy individuals, neither do we associate ourselves with criminals – Mlaba must be locked up, lock him up in prison for many years, that is where he and his cronies belong. We stand firm in doing whatever we can in promoting business not crooks and dodgy people.
We salute DIRCO and the Minister of International Relations for their courageous move, now prosecute him for fraud. He must pay back tax payers’ money from the day of his fraudulent deployment until his last day in office.”
Obed Mlaba’s bad reputation
Mlaba is no stranger to hot water. During his 16-year stint as Durban mayor, he was subject to an investigation by forensic auditors Manase.
They accused him of ‘irregularly and unlawfully influencing’ a multi-billion rand landfill tender. However, the contract was never awarded, and he was never charged.
