SAA bans unruly diplomat from all flights

CAPE TOWN -- South African Airways has thrown the book at senior South African diplomat Jerome Barnes, including banning him from ever flying on any of the airline's services worldwide and laying criminal charges against him.

In a statement yesterday, SAA said it had decided on the action after a careful and thorough investigation into what had happened on a May 6 flight to London.

Barnes allegedly behaved in an unruly and disruptive way during the flight. He is accused of fondling a flight attendant, insulting a purser by calling her a ''f***ing white bitch'', and putting passengers' safety at risk by walking around demanding a drink and cigarette when passengers were asked to buckle-up.

SAA described Barnes' actions as ''unruly and very abusive to two of our flight attendants''.

Barnes, a first secretary at the high commission in London -- could not be arrested at Heathrow because he had diplomatic immunity.

SAA spokesman Victor Nosi said: ''The said passenger will not be allowed to travel on any of South African Airways services anywhere in the world.''

SAA had also laid charges against Barnes in terms of the South African Aviation Offences Act.

Moreover, it had lodged a formal complaint against Barnes with the high commission in London, and would assist its employees who wished to lay individual charges if they so wished, Nosi said.

''We would like to make it clear to anyone that SAA will not tolerate any disruptive behaviour, by anyone on our flights, that will jeopardise the comfort and safety of all our staff and passengers.

''I do hope that the judicial system will assist the airline in rooting out this kind of unacceptable behaviour,'' Nosi said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday announced that its chief director for Europe, Gert Grobbler, had been appointed to investigate the allegations against Barnes.

Grobbler was appointed in terms of the public service's disciplinary code and procedures.

The high commissioner in London Cheryl Carolus, had also met representatives of SAA and New Scotland Yard's diplomatic section to discuss the incident.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Dan Ngwepe said yesterday that Barnes was still at his desk and was expected to be given a five-day notice of the investigation against him. -- Sapa