The High Court of Pretoria has ruled against a former South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) executive who made false and malicious allegations against senior SACAA officials following the non-renewal of his employment contract, SACAA has disclosed.
According to SACAA, Mr. Peter Mashaba was employed by the SACAA under a five-year fixed-term contract as the Executive of the Accident and Incident Investigations Division (AIID) from 7 September 2016 to 6 September 2021.
Upon the expiration of his contract, Mashaba filed a dispute with the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration (CCMA), claiming that he had a reasonable expectation of contract renewal. He also alleged that the non-renewal of his contract amounted to victimisation by the Director of Civil Aviation (DCA), linking it to a purported warning he made regarding the tragic crash of the SACAA-operated Cessna S550 in January 2020, SACAA stated.
SACAA noted that Mashaba further made these public statements with the intent to create a false impression, maliciously suggesting that the non-renewal of his fixedterm contract was linked to information regarding the tragic aircraft accident.
In response to these false claims, the SACAA approached the court urgently, demanding that Mashaba cease and desist from spreading false information and defaming senior SACAA employees. The court ruled in favour of the SACAA on the cease-and-desist charge, ordering Mashaba to pay costs, which still remain unpaid. The SACAA is dealing with the recovery of its costs.
Additionally, Mashaba had previously lodged a complaint with the Public Protector against the DCA and the SACAA Board. However, the Public Protector found no substantiation for his allegations. Also, the labour dispute raised by Mashaba regarding the non-renewal of his contract was resolved in the SACAA’s favour through both the CCMA and the Labour Court, which ruled that Mashaba was not unfairly dismissed, as his contract had expired.
“The SACAA, as a regulatory body, aims to eliminate any uncertainties regarding its integrity and standing, particularly as it plays a vital role in aviation safety and security,” SACAA stated, adding that “It is essential for the public, industry stakeholders, and international partners to maintain trust in the SACAA’s integrity, professionalism, and unwavering dedication to aviation safety and security.”
Furthermore, the SACAA said it views Mashaba’s allegations and his failure to comply with a court order in a serious light, as they undermine the credibility of the authority. “The SACAA remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding the highest standards of accountability and transparency in all its operations,” the CAA stated.
