JOHANNESBURG, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- The South African government on Sunday criticized the memorandum by embassies of the United States, Britain, Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland, which raised concerns about some issues in South Africa.
The embassies jointly wrote a memo to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, raising concerns and suggestions about some issues in the country. South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) said they did not follow the international recognized norms.
"This is a departure from established diplomatic practice. In terms of acceptable diplomatic practice, protocol and convention, diplomatic missions are expected to communicate to the receiving state by means of a note verbal (diplomatic note) conveyed through the DIRCO," said DIRCO's spokesperson Ndivhuwo Mabaya.
He said that there is a universal norm and all embassies, regional and international organizations accredited to South Africa are aware of this.
South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Lindiwe Sisulu has requested a meeting with the embassies to raise concerns over their actions.
The country's diplomatic missions abroad consistently observe this protocol by directing official communication to the respective foreign ministries in the countries of accreditation, Mabaya said.
"DIRCO would like to remind all diplomatic missions accredited to South Africa to address official correspondence through the appropriate diplomatic channels," Mabaya said.
The embassies had written to Ramaphosa saying his investment drive would fail if he does not act against state capture and other crimes. They also raised concerns about some hindrances to foreign investment like changes in the mining sector's regulatory frame wok.
