SAA head withdraws legal bid against inquiry

However, SAA spokesman Tlali Tlali said it had not received "formal notification" of the withdrawal.

"In our view it remains on the court roll until the contrary has been communicated," he said.

Kalawe's case was not heard in the Labour Court in Johannesburg on Thursday. A two-hour delay, which was not explained, was followed by loadshedding. Kalawe was present for a short period.

SAA filed responding arguments to the Labour Court late on Wednesday, which could have played a role in his decision to withdraw.

Kalawe had applied urgently to the court to have his disciplinary hearing, due to be resumed on Monday, set aside and his suspension lifted. According to Kalawe, SAA informed him on March 10 that the focus of the charges against him would be the overseas bank statements he had procured to discredit SAA chair Dudu Myeni, and not the initial charges of noncompliance with policies and the law, and of not acting in the best interests of SAA, among others.

Kalawe said his disclosure of the bank statements amounted to a protected disclosure made in the interests of SAA.

He and SAA reached an agreement to have the matter heard in the inquiry chaired by Nazeer Cassim SC, according to the source.

It is understood SAA revealed in its responding documents that Kalawe had asked security staff to install spyware in his office, on his suit jacket and on a pair of faux keys, to protect himself from a potential sexual harassment case.

Kalawe has also been accused of appointing a former colleague as an executive assistant at a salary tripling that of his predecessor.

Source: Business Day