[imagesource:wikimedia]

South Africa’s top envoy to Dubai has been recalled for allegedly running a scheme selling visas in that country.

Consul-General Tsepo Lebona has been dragged back home after it was revealed that he even arranged break-ins at his own office as part of an elaborate scheme to sell visas to United Arab Emirates citizens.

Lebona is accused of corruption, including wrangling diplomatic status for his son, after whistleblowers alerted Home Affairs and the International Relations Department.

According to the Sunday Times, Lebona, in cahoots with some of his juniors at the consulate, ran a ‘parallel operation’ and issued handwritten visas to applicants who wanted to avoid the R2,600 for a study visa or work permit.

A spokesperson for the International Relations Department, Chrispin Phiri, told eNCA that an investigation was launched following the information coming to light and that the department was grateful to the whistle-blowers for their information.

At the time of his appointment, Lebona said, “The Dubai Mission has a vital role to play and the outreach to our 60,000 expat community should be strategically encouraged. I look forward to an exciting 4 years in this bustling heartbeat of The United Arab Emirates.”

It sounds like perhaps the bustling heartbeat of the UAE proved too costly for the Consul-General, so pockets had to be lined with ill-gotten gains.

H.E. Justice Omar Al Mheiri, Director; H.E. Justice Ali Al Madhani, Deputy Chief Justice; and the #DIFCCourts team were pleased to welcome H.E. Andrew Tsepo Lebona, Consul General of the Republic of #SouthAfrica in #Dubai and the Northern #Emirate. pic.twitter.com/zyycXMNk4Y

— DIFC Courts (@DIFCCourts) July 12, 2024

[source:enca]