Inside Education Reporter
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme administrator, Professor Hlengani Mathebula, has welcomed the Labour Court ruling to reinstate Facilities Manager Alfred Abrahams, saying the agency will abide by the decision.
The administrator said in a statement released on Saturday that the ruling to reinstate Abrahams was critical and affirmed the role of whistleblowers in the fight against corruption.
Abrahams was dismissed in May 2023 after he made protected disclosures related to a lease of a building in Cape Town that cost NSFAS R 2 million per month while the building stood empty or was too big for NSFAS requirements.
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In his ruling, Judge R Lagrange found that “All the evidence points to the overwhelming cause of his dismissal being his disclosure of the information of various acts of wrongdoing on the part of NSFAS Management.”
The administrator said this was progress in making protected disclosures regarding procurement irregularities, acted in the public interest, and was in accordance with the principles of good governance.
“This judgment is an important affirmation of the rights of whistleblowers and the critical role they play in upholding integrity and accountability within public institutions. As Administrator, I wish to state unequivocally that NSFAS fully supports whistleblowers and is committed to creating a safe environment where employees are empowered to raise legitimate concerns without fear of victimisation or retaliation,” the administrator said.
Mathebula said the courage demonstrated by individuals who came forward to report wrongdoing was essential to fostering a culture of transparency, ethical conduct, and continuous improvement.
“Let me be clear: under my stewardship, NSFAS will be managed in strict adherence to the highest standards of corporate governance, with a firm commitment to collective accountability,” he said, before adding, “This means that every member of staff, regardless of rank, is expected to act in good faith and in the best interests of the organisation and the students we serve. We will continue to strengthen our policies and practices to ensure that all procurement and other critical processes are conducted with fairness, transparency, and due diligence.”
Mathebula said the good corporate governance was not merely a compliance exercise but the foundation upon which public trust should be built.
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He said it requires rigorous internal controls, open channels for reporting concerns, and a clear, unwavering commitment to ethical behaviour at every level of the organisation.
The administrator promised to intensify regular training on corporate governance, review and enhance NSFAS whistleblower protection mechanisms, and hold all employees accountable for upholding these standards.
“We recognise that employee accountability goes hand in hand with support and protection for those who act to safeguard the integrity of the organisation. Our approach will be holistic: we will not tolerate any form of misconduct or procedural irregularity, nor will we allow whistleblowers to be silenced or marginalised,” Mathebula said
INSIDE EDUCATION
