SABS’ Low Standard Statement

Dear Editor

Yesterday’s statement from the SABS to “address unfounded allegations and reaffirm commitment to transparency” raises more questions than it answers, and it does not address the substantive issue of the suspension of Nehawu Chairperson, Mohola Maremela, for demanding accountability from the Acting CEO of the SABS, Lizo Makele.

Mr Makele has subsequently appointed an armed security detail to provide 24-hour security for him and other SABS executives.

Maremela, and other Nehawu officials, were suspended after they went to the office of the Acting CEO on Tuesday, to protest ongoing governance issues which have plagued the institution for years, and to date we have no public explanation for the suspension of a person seeking accountability and answers.

In the statement, the SABS says that “After thorough internal reviews, we categorically state that these claims are baseless, lack context, and are not supported by any credible evidence” and “Despite persistent misinformation campaigns aimed at derailing our progress, we continue to rebuild and strengthen the organization. We welcome any legitimate inquiries and will cooperate fully with appropriate processes or investigations.”

The SABS released this statement just two days after the suspension of Maremela.

These latest events come as accusations abound that the recent cyber-attack on SABS mission-critical IT systems were self-inflicted, by executives trying to cover their tracks after a series of senior staff suspensions, procurement irregularities and loss of SANAS accreditation of the SABS cement labs.

The DA received another whistleblower report on 10 December 2024, which details what appears to be a state of near-anarchy at the SABS, an extract of which reads: “the SABS is at a standstill because of a cyberattack, accreditations are being suspended because the SABS is unable to deliver, Training services are suspended because the maintenance of facilities is atrocious (water, air conditioning, electricity, canteen) – and the leadership pay themselves a bonus.”

The suspension of Mr Maremela and the other Nehawu officials for demanding action from the Acting CEO shows SABS top management is determined to silence attempts by affected SABS staff to hold them to account, notwithstanding the strenuous and hardly credible denials contained in today’s statement issued by the SABS.

It is clear that a culture of fear has infested the SABS such that staff are now scared to speak out, afraid of being suspended, threatened and victimised. The DA has also learned that significant resources are being spent in trying to identify whistleblowers, rather than dealing with the issues that the whistleblowers raise.

At the very minimum, Minister Parks Tau must immediately appoint an independent, root and branch investigation into the SABS with powers to subpoena witnesses, including board members, executives, staff and suppliers, to give evidence.

Should the investigation reveal complicity by board members and senior executives, Minister Tau should not hesitate to place the SABS under administration and remove the board from office.

Regards

Toby Chance MP
DA Spokesperson on Trade, Industry & Competition