South Africa’s consul-general in China, Lassy Chiwayo has been recalled after he was allegedly found wandering the streets unclad. The veteran politician, who spent time in prison with Nelson Mandela, has had his contract in Shanghai terminated and is back in Pretoria. The South African foreign office says he was recalled due to ‘health reasons’, but several newspapers have reported that Mr Chiwayo was found wandering the street near his home unclad three months ago.
Sunday World reports Chiwayo’s walks the streets without clothes regularly. “He would disappear for days without trace and he would be found walking around unclad,” a source said. Mr Chiwayo was also reported to have assaulted South Africa’s Bheki Langa at an official function in Beijing.
Following the reports, the 44-year-old has denied he was recalled saying it is ‘general practice’ for envoys to be reassigned. He also dismissed the unclad wandering stories and insisted his relationship with Dr Langa was ‘healthy and cordial’.
