The National Department of Transport has ordered an independent investigation into allegations of financial irregularities involving payments worth about R15 million, following claims made by departmental whistleblower Esethu Hasane.
In a statement issued on Sunday ,06 September , the department said Acting Director-General Mathabatha Mokonyama instructed Bowmans law firm to investigate the allegations after they were published in a Sunday World article on 30 August 2026.
“The Department takes allegations of financial irregularity very seriously,” the department said, adding that the investigation was already under way.
The department has appealed to Hasane and members of the public to allow the investigation to run its course and said remedial action would be taken if the probe establishes breaches of the regulatory framework.
The allegations centre on procurement within the department’s communications operations. Hasane has alleged that about R15 million was spent on communications and live-streaming services through procurement processes that he questioned. According to reporting on the allegations, seven live-streaming requests were worth about R6.8 million, while payments to three service providers allegedly exceeded R13.2 million over two financial years.
Hasane has also alleged that some of the work could have been performed internally and that procurement requests were structured below the R1 million threshold, potentially avoiding additional scrutiny. These remain allegations and have not been established as fact.
The department has also rejected Hasane’s claims that he was victimised or harassed for raising concerns about financial irregularities.
It said his allegations of harassment were dismissed with costs by the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court after he applied for a protection order.
The department further said similar allegations were dismissed with costs by the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council.
According to the department, Hasane’s requests for the Public Protector and Public Service Commission to investigate his allegations of harassment were also unsuccessful.
The latest dispute comes after Hasane previously raised allegations of workplace harassment and irregular conduct within the department. In 2025, his family said he had experienced a prolonged period of workplace harassment that resulted in his hospitalisation, while also alleging that a fraudulent letter had been used in an attempt to have him dismissed.
The department’s latest investigation is expected to determine whether the procurement and payments flagged by Hasane breached applicable financial and procurement regulations.
The department said it would take appropriate remedial action should the investigation find evidence of wrongdoing.
