Former South African Department of Communications (DoC) spokesperson Wisani Ngobeni has lost failed in his bid for whistleblower protection, meaning disciplinary action can now be taken against him.
Disclosures made by Ngobeni lead in February to South African president Jacob Zuma authorising the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate the award of a digital migration public awareness tender worth ZAR756 million (US$71.6 million) by the DoC to Media Corner, with HumanIPO reporting earlier today the unit raided the DoC offices.
The Sunday Times reports Judge AJ Tlhotlhalemaje ruled Ngobeni did demonstrate he made a protected disclosure in good faith, but said he was not entitled to have disciplinary action against him set aside.
“The intended disciplinary action will not constitute an occupational detriment, that he has not established what irreparable harm he would suffer, and further that he has alternative remedies,” he said.
In his revelations, Ngobeni accused DoC director-general Rosey Sekese and deputy director-general Sam Vilakazi of irregular expenditure over the tender, which he said resulted in attempts to force him out of his job, though the DoC said an investigation was already underway into his appointment prior to the whistleblowing incident.
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