The political counsellor and second in charge in the embassy, Mlulami Singapi, was accused of assaulting the head of corporate services at the embassy, Lyn de Jong, on May 7, spokesman Saul Molobi said.

“We are following internal human resources proceedings to deal with the matter,” he said.

He declined to say whether Singapi was suspended and whether he was still in Zimbabwe.

“We don’t want to comment publicly on the details of the incident,” he said. “We are handling the matter with due consideration.”

Public Service Association deputy general manager Manie de Clercq said on Monday that De Jong laid a charge of assault against Singapi at the Avondale police station, in Harare, on May 8.

“She attached a medical report to the statement,” he said.

“She plans to submit the exact same statement to the police in South Africa,” said De Clercq.

De Jong was apparently on her way to the Brooklyn police station, in Pretoria, to lay charges on Monday afternoon.

She was allegedly assaulted for several minutes by Singapi in her office at the embassy.

“Four of Ms De Jong’s colleagues, responding to her screams, managed to pull Singapi away from her, where she was lying on the floor,” De Clercq said on Friday.

“Once in the passage, he continued to threaten her by shouting:

I am not done with you, I am going to finish you off’,” said De Clercq.

De Jong, who lives in Pretoria, is currently in South Africa for 30 days home leave that was due to her. She was not available for media interviews.

She apparently sustained several injuries, including a swollen face and eyes, ears and bruises on her back and chest.

She was allegedly also assaulted by Singapi in June 2009.

De Clercq said she decided not to take action against him then and that the incident was not as serious as the latest alleged assault.

“[She] was convinced by the then department of foreign affairs to drop the case and ‘make peace and in the interest of the mission to resolve the matter quietly’.”

De Clercq said the PSA had written a letter to International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane about the matter, but had not received any response by Monday.

De Clercq said on Friday the attack was apparently caused by a “whistleblowing” incident.

“De Jong and some of her colleagues were not happy with his conduct.”

Molobi said the department was not aware of any criminal charges laid against Singapi.

“I cannot comment on that,” he said.

By The Times (SA)