South African aviation regulator fires whistleblower over plane crash disclosures

The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has dismissed Jeremiah Visser, an airworthiness inspector and former air crash investigator, following his use of the regulator’s internal whistleblowing mechanism. Visser raised concerns regarding the January 2020 crash of ZS-CAR, a Cessna Citation S550 owned by SACAA for airport-calibration work. The fatal accident near George killed three employees: Captain Thabiso Tolo, First Officer Tebogo Lekalakala, and Flight Inspector Gugu Comfort Mnguni.

SACAA suspended Visser shortly after his March disclosure, citing allegations of unethical conduct and the disclosure of confidential information. The regulator subsequently dismissed him following a disciplinary process. SACAA also sought legal action in the North Gauteng High Court to prevent Visser from publishing a manuscript regarding the crash, though the urgent portion of that application was struck from the roll.

Advocacy groups, including OUTA and Public Interest SA, are calling for an independent investigation. They argue that the regulator should engage with the substance of the safety concerns rather than treating the whistleblower as an outcast. While Visser maintains his disclosures were protected matters of aviation safety, SACAA maintains the dismissal was based on breaches of employment obligations and internal policies.