Calls are mounting for an independent investigation into the South African Civil Aviation Authority’s (SACAA) handling of whistleblower Jeremiah Visser after the regulator fired him following disclosures concerning the fatal crash of its own aircraft.
OUTA and Public Interest SA have both questioned SACAA's treatment of Visser and called for an independent investigation into the substance of the concerns he raised, rather than letting the matter end with his dismissal.
Visser, an airworthiness inspector and former air crash investigator, used SACAA’s internal Vuvuzela whistleblowing mechanism in March to raise concerns arising from his research into the January 2020 crash of ZS-CAR, the regulator’s Cessna Citation S550 calibration aircraft.
Three people died when the aircraft crashed near George.
The victims were identified as 49-year-old Captain Thabiso Tolo, 1st Officer, 33-year-old Tebogo Caroline Lekalakala and the 36-year-old Flight Inspector Gugu Comfort Mnguni, all from the SACAA
Visser was suspended soon after making the disclosure over allegations which included acting unethically and divulging confidential information. He was subsequently subjected to a disciplinary process and dismissed.
SACAA also approached the North Gauteng High Court in July, seeking to prevent Visser from publishing or sharing a manuscript about the crash. The urgent leg of its application was struck from the roll with costs.
OUTA chief executive Wayne...
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