The strange case of Ngconde Balfour

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SA high commissioner to Bots lives in opulence but can't ‘afford' to promote SA.

GABORONE- These are strange times indeed: SA high commissioner to Botswana, Ngconde Balfour lives in opulence but can't afford a table at the global expo organised by Botswana Export Development & Investment Authority (BEDIA).

This was revealed to Moneyweb Botswana on its visit to the conference in Gaborone, held to promote businesses and stimulate intra-regional business exchange.

In a bid to seize the opportunity and promote their services, South African Airways and Sun International flew journalists from South Africa's leading media houses to Gaborone and housed them at one of the leading hotels in the city, Gaborone Sun, otherwise known by the locals as G-sun, where we met up with them.

Upon arrival and checking into G-sun, journalists were driven to the South African embassy residence to meet with Balfour. As usual everyone on the bus was looking forward to seeing how their representative in Botswana lives, given the extravagant lifestyle public officials in South Africa have been known to enjoy at the expense of taxpayers.

The group was warmly welcomed by a housekeeper followed by Balfour who ushered us into his lounge. The eye was drawn to the numerous mirrors in the house and well organised, attractive furniture.

One journalist's eye was caught by a Mercedes Benz E-class catalogue lying on Balfour's coffee table, he told Balfour, "I like the bedtime story book on the coffee table". Balfour responded that he was just browsing through the catalogue which the local Mercedes Benz dealer, Naledi motors had dropped off at his home. He emphasised that if he was to buy it, and "definitely not now", he would use his own funds and not taxpayers'.

Balfour told us he was appointed to Botswana as a political ambassador with an aim of co-ordinating SADC issues and promoting cross border relations between South Africa and Botswana. He said the global expo organised by BEDIA was a good opportunity for South African companies to promote themselves in Botswana, but added that the South Africa High Commission would not be present "due to a lack of funds". Asked to elaborate he said that the global expo stands were too expensive for his office.

Fortunately not all South Africans felt the same, South African Airways, Cape Winelands District Municipality, Invest North West South Africa, North West University graduate school, St James Capital group, Johannesburg fresh produce market, SSH body manufacturers, HSE solutions, Ekurhuleni metropolitan municipality, frame fun and Mvelaserve cleaning services were present.

BEDIA said the main aim for the global expo was to attract foreign direct investment, promote joint venture opportunities between citizens and foreign investors, stimulate a culture of entrepreneurship locally and promote access to Botswana market for international exhibitors.

Write to John Chombah: johnc@moneyweb.co.za