Share

Scopa asks Transnet to account for what has happened to whistleblowers

Cape Town - Members of Parliament’s standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) have asked the leadership of Transnet to update the committee on the status of employees who have blown the whistle against corruption.  

“Are they still in the employ of Transnet? What has happened to them?” asked ANC MP Nthabiseng Khunou during a committee meeting on Tuesday. 

“We need to have a report that these were the whistleblowers and what has happened to them.”

Khunou did not name which whistleblowers she was referring to, or which cases they were involved in. 

Transnet officials and board members were appearing before the committee to give evidence on tender processes, corporate governance, and why the board didn't show up to give evidence at a previous committee meeting.

Earlier the Hawks had provided an update on cases of suspected corruption they were investigation at Transnet. 

In response to the requests for information on whistleblowers, Transnet group chief executive Siyabonga Gama alleged that some were not as innocent as they claimed. 

“This is quite important, I think,” he said. He said some of them had become whitleblowers after facing disciplinary action and having quit Transnet.  

He noted they had not blown the whistle against corruption when they were still employees of the state-owned enterprise, which he said they could have done via its toll-free corruption hotline. 

“Some of those that have come up in recent months are employees who are being pursued by Transnet for transgressions. When they left Transnet, they become whistleblowers,” he added.  

He did not say who he was referring to.

Supply chain management  

The Transnet board and management were critisised by MPs for deviations from tenders, and not putting all contracts out to open tender.  

“Officials can’t come here and play with public representatives,” said ANC MP Vincent Smith.

MPs claimed Transnet sometimes waited until the last minute to put out tenders, in the knowledge that only certain firms would be able to secure them. 

At other times contracts were extended multiple times.  

Gama acknowledged Transnet needed to find a way to reduce the number of deviations form its tender contracts, which have run into tens of millions of rand.   

“The management and the board will continue to endeavour to [make sure] that there is a reduction,” he said.  

He said Transnet had a "deficiency" in contract management. “We [will] continue to take steps that contract management improve."


* Sign up to Fin24's top news in your inbox: SUBSCRIBE TO FIN24 NEWSLETTER

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Rand - Dollar
18.97
-0.3%
Rand - Pound
23.97
-0.3%
Rand - Euro
20.48
-0.1%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.36
-0.1%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.4%
Platinum
907.94
+1.2%
Palladium
1,014.30
+1.3%
Gold
2,215.39
+0.9%
Silver
24.91
+1.1%
Brent Crude
86.09
-0.2%
Top 40
68,346
+1.0%
All Share
74,536
+0.9%
Resource 10
57,251
+2.9%
Industrial 25
103,936
+0.6%
Financial 15
16,502
-0.1%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Company Snapshot
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE
Government tenders

Find public sector tender opportunities in South Africa here.

Government tenders
This portal provides access to information on all tenders made by all public sector organisations in all spheres of government.
Browse tenders