Civil Aviation Authority chief executive Trevor Abrahams was placed on an indefinite compulsory leave of absence on Thursday following allegations of misconduct and impropriety against him.
CAA representative Trevor Davids said he would only be able to divulge the details of the allegations once a forensic report into the matter had been completed.
He said the CAA’s board had issued a directive that the report be completed soon. The CAA board of directors took the decision to place Abrahams on compulsory leave earlier in the day. This action was taken to allow a forensic audit to probe the allegations that had been brought to the attention of the board.
The board said in a statement that it was not passing judgement or fuelling accusations, but merely paving the way for a speedy and fair investigation into the allegations.
”We will endeavour to bring about a speedy end to the
investigations so as to put the allegations to bed once and for all.
”The CAA is committed to the highest form of integrity and given the position involved and the seriousness of the allegations, wish to follow a transparent and just process in getting to the bottom of the allegations.
”An independent investigation into the allegations will be launched and we, the board, will support its outcome,” said Zukile Nomvete, acting chair of the CAA board.
The Mail&Guardian newspaper reported last week that Abrahams shared a private events management company with his fiancee. It said the company had tendered for, and benefited from CAA contracts.
In June 2000 Abrahams was suspended as CEO of the CAA after being arrested on charges related to a pilot’s licence scam. A whistle-blower in the case alleged that some pilots were involved in a scam to buy examination papers for their Airline Transport Pilot licences. Abrahams was alleged to have known about the matter and did nothing about it.
However in March 2001 Abrahams was reinstated as CEO after the state withdrew it charges of fraud, corruption, obstruction of justice and contravention of the Aviation Act against Abrahams.
At the time the office of the National Director of Public Prosecutions said the charges were withdrawn after it was found that it might not be in the public interest to prosecute Abrahams.
It was found that there was not enough evidence in the state’s case to warrant a trial. During the trial an independent review panel was set up to investigate the allegations.
It found that Abrahams’ South African private pilot’s licence included an instrument rating which was issued irregularly. He had undergone the flight test, but not the theoretical examination required.
Abrahams had allegedly once undertaken a flight for which an instrument rating was required before the irregularity was corrected.
It was recommended that the CAA board should reprimand Abrahams or take steps it deemed necessary against him. At the time, the board said it would wait for the outcome of the court case.
After the withdrawal of the charges the board unanimously took a decision not to reprimand or instil disciplinary action against Abrahams.
Davids said on Thursday Abrahams would still perform his duties as commissioner of the CAA. The commissioner oversees the aviation regulations.
Captain Sakhile Nyoni, who is the general manager of flight operations at the CAA, has been appointed acting CEO. – Sapa