Tags
The South African government has distanced itself from claims by one of its ministers that the country’s ombudswoman is a CIA agent, a charge that drew a sharp response from the US ambassador.
Deputy Defence Minister Kebby Maphatsoe alleged at the weekend that the country’s fearless public protector (ombudswoman), Thuli Madonsela (pictured), was a US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) spy working to destabilise the ruling African National Congress party and the country.
The remarks caused an uproar and led to US ambassador Patrick Gaspard saying that he would lodge a formal diplomatic complaint.
“We categorically reject the baseless and offensive accusations,” Gaspard said in a tweet.
“The ministers should spend their time improving services instead of making baseless comments,” he was later quoted as telling the Cape Times.
The government of President Jacob Zuma responded by disassociating itself from the deputy minister’s claim.
“The government distances itself from such accusations,” which do not “reflect the views and thinking of government”, a minister in the presidency, Jeff Radebe, said in a statement.
There are no comments.
SPORT Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when you are saying farewell to those that have left a positive impression. That was the case earlier this month when Canada hosted Mexico in a friendly at BC Place stadium in Vancouver.
TECHNOLOGY Some 60mn primary-school-age children have no access to formal education
CULTURE Lekhwiya’s El Arabi scores the equaliser after Tresor is sent off; Tabata, al-Harazi score for QSL champions
ARABIA The Yemeni Minister of Tourism, Dr Mohamed Abdul Majid Qubati, yesterday expressed hope that the 48-hour ceasefire in Yemen declared by the Command of Coalition Forces on Saturday will be maintained in order to lift the siege imposed on Taz City and ease the entry of humanitarian aid to the besieged
ARABIA Some 200 teachers from schools across the country attended Qatar Museum’s (QM) first ever Teachers Council at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) yesterday.
ARABIA The Supreme Judiciary Council (SJC) of Qatar and the Indonesian Supreme Court (SCI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on judicial co-operation, it was announced yesterday.
ECONOMY Sri Lanka is keen on importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar as part of government policy to shift to clean energy, Minister of City Planning and Water Supply Rauff Hakeem has said.
