R2K Whistleblowers 2015: Takalani Murathi

Takalani Murathi

Exposed tender irregularities in a Seta in Limpopo. Suspended and charged with misconduct.

Takalani Murathi works as a senior supply-chain manager for MerSETA, the manufacturing SETA. He was suspended in January 2014, three days after reporting his concerns about possible tender irregularities. He reported it first to the Special Investigative Unit, and then the Public Protector.

As reported in City Press his concerns amounted to about R45-million in public spending by the SETA, including an allegedly irregular 10-year lease in KwaZulu-Natal that would have cost R15 million, a R23 million skills development tender in North West, and a R7 million lease for a bus.

MerSETA hit back, alleging that Murathi was suspended because of serious allegations of fraud against himself. (See a ruling of the Press Council on the City Press report here.)

Since then he has approached the Labour Court for protection, but the matter has yet to be heard.

Murathi was featured in R2K’s 2015 Whistleblower Calendar. Find out more at r2k.org.za/whistleblower-calendar-2015