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The South African government does not spend conservatively when it comes to its chanceries, official residences, and staff housing abroad.

Not even when diplomats use taxpayers’ money to negotiate larger, more luxurious homes – homes that have been left in stained, cockroach-infested disarray.

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation has published a list of the most expensive foreign properties where officials and other dignitaries reside while conducting their business.

One look at the figures involved should make the average Saffa, slogging away to pay tax to fund these extravagances, a little miffed.

At the moment, we have 79 missions abroad and many regional embassies serving surrounding countries and territories, none of which come cheap, per BusinessTech:

According to the department’s data, South Africa currently spends R13 million a month to rent the top 10 chanceries [offices of South Africa’s embassies] and close to R2.5 million a month on the 10 most expensive official residences.

You’re looking at the building which houses the country’s most expensive embassy up top, located at 845 Third Avenue in New York. The rent totals $160 000 a month.

That’s north of R2,75 million a month and it’s not the only embassy hitting seven figures:

Image: BusinessTech

The most expensive official residence can be found in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, clocking in at R278 279 a month.

Our official residence in Dublin, Ireland, has a monthly rental of R268 790.

[source:businesstech]