The conclusion of the independent investigation into State-owned South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) by private contractor TSU International – the investigative arm of international security firm TSU Protective Services – has been delayed from end-May until the end of June.

The probe was commissioned by Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau in response to numerous allegations of corruption and mismanagement brought forward by whistleblowers since last year.

“The investigation has been extended until June 30 so that they can try to fill the many gaps of missing information and try to conclude in a more reasonable manner,” Tau told Engineering News.

In a letter to Tau on June 6, Democratic Alliance parliamentary member and Trade, Industry and Competition spokesperson Toby Chance questioned Tau on why the suspension of individuals had not taken place.

“You undertook to suspend . . . key individuals at a meeting with National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union officials last month. No action has been taken to that end,” he said.

In an earlier letter to Tau, dated April 30, Chance said the conduct of some senior executives at the SABS warranted their precautionary suspension with immediate effect.

“The allegations from whistleblowers received since August 2024 and conversations I have had with some of them paint a picture of sustained victimisation, shaming and bullying of staff by these individuals, improper appointment of staff and service providers, as well as incidences of management failure, most notably the failure to fully mitigate the negative impact of the cyber-attack the SABS suffered in November 2024 and the absence of disaster-recovery systems and procedures,” his letter said.

Chance said these precautionary suspensions were required owing to the independent investigation.

“Many of the allegations are levelled at [certain] executives, who remain in positions of authority with ample opportunity to interfere with an impartial and fair investigation.

I call upon . . . the board of directors to take this measure without delay, in the interests of the long-term health of the SABS,” Chance said in April.

Tau responded that “… the delay in not having the suspension of [these] individuals take place has further compromised the final gathering of evidence to conclude on individual matters.”

Chance alleged that, since then, one of these individuals had apparently, under instructions from the acting CEO, been given a contract under questionable circumstances that undermined SABS hiring procedures.

However, Tau denied any knowledge of this.

Chance also raised concerns about ongoing delays in appointing a permanent CEO and filling board vacancies.

“It is unacceptable that these delays are continuing with no explanation or justification,” he told Tau.

However, the Minister simply replied that the appointment of a board was being finalised and that the filling of the CEO vacancy was being prioritised.