Singapi was suspended after he allegedly attacked De Jong at the embassy in Harare in May following a quarrel over a cleaner.

Disciplinary hearings have been held by the Department of International Relations and Co-operation, the outcome of which is not yet known.

The issue has become so acrimonious that it was recently raised in the South African parliament in Cape Town. South African International Relations Minister Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane recently told parliament that Singapi was suspended and an investigation has been initiated.

An official report on the incident had recommended that Singapi be charged with misconduct, which had been done, she said.

However, a new row has now exploded between De Jong and Singapi in Harare.

A South African embassy memo shows that De Jong is now accusing Singapi of "intimidation and vandalism of property" after her home was recently stalked by anonymous people who smashed lights at her gate and disturbed her peace at midnight.

De Jong made a police report at Avondale Police Station in Harare in which she suggested that Singapi was behind the incident.

"I have reason to believe that this incident may have been arranged by a colleague who recently assaulted me in an attempt to intimidate me," De Jong said in a memo dated August 16.

De Jong on Friday confirmed to the Sunday Times that she had filed a case of intimidation and vandalism at Avondale Police Station and another one at Sunnyside Police Station in Pretoria after her car was "smashed" by unknown assailants.

"Yes, it's true I reported a case at Avondale Police Station in Harare a few weeks ago after some people came during the night and smashed my front gate lights and made noises at odd hours.

"I also made another police report in Pretoria after my car was smashed by unknown people," De Jong said.

Asked if Singapi was the chief suspect, she said "ask the police".

In her memo about the episode in Harare, De Jong said the "incident occurred at my residence at midnight on Saturday, July 31 2010".

"I returned home from the embassy at 11.30pm on Saturday night as the embassy generator was not working. I went to my bedroom and had a bath.

"As the guards had noted a car that was following me and had parked along my wall near the gate they went and woke up Ms E Fuchs and Ms U Malan who are using a bedroom on the ground floor," De Jong says in her memo.

"The guards informed them that a suspicious car was parked outside. Ms Fuchs informed security about the matter.

"Ms Fuchs then phoned me on my cell phone thinking I was still at the embassy and informed me about the suspicious car.

"At midnight two front lights on either side of my gate were either shot at or smashed before the car sped off.

"The security said they saw a VW car in which one of the occupants looked like he was waving a gun. After some time the car drove past the house again and one of my dogs started barking incessantly.

"The car returned and then stopped at my gate and then drove off again."

However, Singapi said on Friday he did not know anything about the incident as he was not involved, claiming he was in South Africa at the time.

By The Times (SA)