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After a three-year legal battle to clear his name, reinstated National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) facilities manager Alfred Abrahams says he hopes the scheme’s public commitment to protecting whistleblowers will be backed by meaningful action.

The Labour Court in Cape Town ordered Abrahams' reinstatement after Judge Robert Lagrange found that he had acted in the public interest and in accordance with the principles of good governance when making protected disclosures relating to alleged procurement irregularities.

Abrahams was dismissed by NSFAS after making a protected disclosure to the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).

NSFAS maintained that he was fired for misconduct after forwarding internal documents to his personal email account, arguing that the action breached the institution's Information and Communication Technology (ICT) policies.

In a statement at the weekend, NSFAS administrator Hlengani Mathebula committed to supporting whistleblowers and creating a safe environment "where employees are empowered to raise legitimate concerns without fear of victimisation or retaliation".

"The courage demonstrated by individuals who come forward to report wrongdoing is essential to fostering a culture of transparency, ethical conduct and continuous improvement," he said.

Mathebula pledged that, under his stewardship, NSFAS would adhere to the highest standards of corporate governance. He was appointed in May by higher education minister...

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