South African Weather Service Pushes Back Against Corruption Allegations: ‘No Storm Inside Saws’

Saws Defends Its Reputation Amid Corruption Allegations

The South African Weather Service (Saws) has found itself under a cloud of controversybut insists there’s no internal storm brewing. This week, the organisation firmly denied allegations of mismanagement and corruption, describing the claims as “unfounded” and “vague”, and pointing to ongoing labour tensions as the likely source of the accusations.

According to Saws spokesperson Oupa Segalwe, the allegations were circulated through media reports citing a labour union within the organisation. The timing, he said, is no coincidence.

“These claims come amid a wage dispute between the entity and the union in question,” Segalwe explained, adding that the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) had recently refused to issue the union a certificate to picket.

Union Tensions and Procurement Delays

At the centre of the controversy is Saws’ procurement process for a new High-Performance Computing (HPC) system, a key component in producing weather forecasts and running predictive climate models. The existing system has reached its end of life, and while Saws has committed to replacing it, the process has faced multiple delays.

Critics allege that the delays are linked to governance failures and procurement manipulation, but Saws maintains the process was restarted three times to ensure full compliance with public procurement laws.

Segalwe emphasised that the bidding process is now in its final evaluation phase, strengthened by safeguards such as double-blind probity reviewsmeasures designed to prevent any individual from exerting undue influence.

Board Oversight and Accountability

The weather service also dismissed claims that its board had granted the CEO unchecked procurement powers or dismantled internal oversight mechanisms.

“The allegation that the board did away with key safeguards, granting the CEO unfettered procurement powers, is without merit,” said Segalwe.

He added that the board maintains strict oversight through regular audits, compliance checks, and independent reports. The Auditor-General also found no evidence of misconduct or irregular procurement activity during its review.

Zero Tolerance for Corruption

Saws insists that it upholds a zero-tolerance policy toward fraud and corruption, and that any reported cases are thoroughly investigated. “The board investigates all reported matters to conclusion,” Segalwe said.

He added that should any allegations involve the CEO, the matter would be referred directly to the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, in line with the Saws Act.

The board has also taken disciplinary action against staff found guilty of corruption or collusion in the past, underscoring its stance on ethical governance.

Reading Between the Clouds

While the public awaits further clarity, the tension between Saws management and the union paints a familiar picture in South Africa’s public sector: disputes between labour and leadership often spill into allegations of corruption, muddying trust in state institutions.

For an agency responsible for predicting real storms, Saws now finds itself navigating a political and reputational tempest of its own.

Whether these clouds clearor lead to a downpour of accountability, will depend on what the next round of investigations reveals. For now, the organisation maintains: there is no storm inside Saws.

{Source: The Citizen}

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