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South Africa expels Lesotho diplomats over illegal alcohol

A person pours a bottle of beer into a glass
Image caption: Illegal sales of alcohol increased during the coronavirus pandemic lockdowns

South Africa has given several diplomats from Lesotho 72 hours to leave the country over the illegal sale of duty-free alcohol.

A notice from the South African authorities listed the diplomats and their dependants and stated that they had “abused their diplomatic privileges”.

Lesotho has distanced itself from the actions of the diplomats and said that it was working on their return.

The country’s foreign affairs ministry wrote that it had learned with “disappointment and embarrassment” of the news.

The South African government has declared all those involved as “persona non grata”.

The illegal sale of alcohol in South Africa grew in 2020 during the coronavirus lockdowns that saw stores and bars close to prevent the spread of the virus.

BBC.COM

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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