The government has confirmed that South Africa’s consul-general in Shanghai has been recalled “for health reasons”, following reports that he was found walking naked in a street near his office in China’s commercial capital about three months ago.

The appointment of Lassy Chiwayo – a former mayor of Mbombela in Mpumalanga – had been terminated and he was back in South Africa receiving treatment, Clayson Monyela, a spokesman for the Department of International Relations and Co-operation, said on Sunday.

The Sunday World newspaper reported that Chiwayo had been recalled because he had “tainted South Africa’s reputation” by walking naked through the Shanghai streets near the consulate-general offices and assaulting South Africa’s ambassador to China, Bheki Langa, at a reception in Beijing.

The paper quoted Chiwayo as strongly denying these allegations and insisting that he had merely been reassigned to duties back in South Africa in the normal course of events.

But Monyela was adamant that Chiwayo’s posting in Shanghai had been terminated and he was in South Africa receiving treatment for “health-related challenges”.

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