PP finds former SA Maritime Safety Authority head guilty of cheating hiring process

Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka has found the former head of the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) guilty of acting improperly in a recruitment process.

An employee filed a complaint alleging that there was interference in a recruitment process that prevented him from getting a job.

The former SAMSA CEO, Sobantu Tiyali, resigned in December before the report that came out now in March was issued.

Tiyali was subjected to multiple suspensions for other offences during his time as chief operating officer and acting CEO.

Adding to that, in 2019, an employee applied for the corporate affairs executive position and was interviewed but did not get the job and instead a candidate who did not have the required qualifications was chosen.

The Public Protector found that Tilayi and the committee failed to comply with the recruitment standards.

The organisation has been ordered to take disciplinary action against Tiyali and table a report within 90 days despite him having resigned.