Spy agency acts against drug smuggling high commissioner

The State Security Agency has revoked the security clearance of South African high commissioner to Singapore Hazel Francis Ngubeni.

The Sunday Times exposed Ngubeni as a convicted drug trafficker who had served time in a US prison.

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Ngubeni returned to South Africa on Monday and is facing an internal probe, which might end in her possible recall.

She failed to declare her 1999 drug-trafficking conviction for smuggling cocaine into the US while working as a cabin crew member for SAA.

Arthur Fraser, the director-general and accounting officer of the SSA, wrote to International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane on Friday informing her about the agency's decision to revoke Ngubeni's clearance.

"We have revoked her security clearance and launched an investigation into the matter," said SSA spokesman Brian Dube.

Bongani Ngqulunga, President Jacob Zuma's spokesman, said the Presidency was "very disturbed by media reports" about Ngubeni's criminal past.

block_quotes_start Stop texting me or I will get a court order to shut your loose mouth                                                block_quotes_end

"Persons sent abroad to represent the president and the country as heads of our missions should be of unquestionable credentials and integrity."

Zuma appointed ambassadors and high commissioners at the recommendation of the International Relations Department "after he has been assured that all necessary processes have been followed. The same applied when appointing Ngubeni", Ngqulunga said .

"The Presidency has asked for a report from the Department of International Relations and Co-operation and will act after applying his mind on its content."

Ngubeni arrived in South Africa on Monday after Nkoana-Mashabane agreed that she should return.

Department spokesman Nelson Kgwete confirmed that there was an investigation into Ngubeni's criminal record and if she had lied during her vetting process.

"The investigation will look at all the allegations against her and make recommendations to the department as to what action to take," Kgwete said.

Ngubeni had offered the Sunday Times a sitdown interview last Saturday about "my whole family history and the facts". But this week she threatened the Sunday Times and said: "Stop texting me or I will get a court order to shut your loose mouth."

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A Sunday Times investigation established that Ngubeni returned to South Africa on April 20 2001 from the US, where she had spent two years in jail following her arrest in the lobby of the Lexington Hotel in New York for possession of cocaine in 1999.

She was fired from SAA in April 1999 following her conviction. She was also arrested on September 20 1995 at OR Tambo International Airport and charged with smuggling 9kg of heroin into South Africa from Thailand.

Another cabin crew member claimed Ngubeni asked him to carry one of her bags into South Africa. But drugs were stashed in a false compartment.

The pair were acquitted in January 1997 after a key witness, reported to be a Mozambican diplomat, refused to testify against Ngubeni.

Ngubeni is the daughter of late Umkhonto weSizwe operative Michael Mpandeni Ngubeni, who served time on Robben Island.

She left South Africa for Singapore on April 17 2013. Her clearance was issued on July 21 2013.

Department records note that Ngubeni was nominated to her position by "senior political leadership".

Before her departure to Singapore, Ngubeni was a VIP guest at a gala fundraiser dinner hosted by the Bongi Ngema-Zuma Foundation at the Hilton Hotel in Sandton on March 2 2013.

Bongi Ngema-Zuma is one of Zuma's wives. The president was a guest speaker at the function and acknowledged Ngubeni in his speech, introducing her as the high commissioner to Singapore.

Ngqulunga said the president didn't have any relationship with Ngubeni and that she was invited to the dinner by a third party.