Picture: The whistleblower, Thuso Bloem
By OBAKENG MAJE
18 September 2025- The Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) was ordered to pay its employee, Thuso Bloem, close to R3 million and reinstate him. This comes after the Gauteng High Court sitting in Pretoria, dismissed the municipality’s attempt to take the Public Protector’s decision on review.
The municipality’s core issue was to determine whether the Public Protector had jurisdiction to consider Bloem’s complaint and whether the remedial action was a lawful attempt to take this case on review.
In 2011, Bloem reported the misuse of public funds, irregular tender awards, and other issues to the municipal council. He was subsequently dismissed, but submitted a complaint of victimisation on account of his whistleblowing to the Public Protector of South Africa.
The Public Protector’s 2018 report found the municipality violated Section 3 of the Protected Disclosures Act (PDA), South Africa’s primary legislation protecting whistleblowers. The Public Protector therefore ordered the whistleblower’s reinstatement, the issuing of backpay, and other relief measures.
However, the municipality applied for the report to be taken on review, but with Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa’ support, Bloem opposed this application.
PPLAAF’s Southern Africa Director, Roshnee Narrandes said Bloem was dismissed by the municipality and left in limbo for over a decade after uncovering alleged maladministration and corruption under the then acting Municipal Manager, Mpho Mofokeng. Narrandes said at the beginning of August, the Gauteng High Court sitting in Pretoria, ruled in favour of Bloem, reaffirming the Public Protector’s remit to order remedial action for whistleblowers.
“This ruling buttresses whistleblowers in South Africa, affirming their rights to protection. Municipalities, the coal-face of service delivery, form the majority of government departments in South Africa that have qualified audits.
“Extending protection beyond the labour process is necessary for a culture of accountability in a country that so desperately needs it,” she said.
Narrandes further said Bloem joined the municipality in 2003, working his way up to senior administrative clerk whilst simultaneously occupying the role of shop steward for the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU). She added that in 2011, on the same day as his complaint, Bloem was served a notice of suspension, purportedly on charges of misconduct.
“Following this, Bloem was unfairly charged and subsequently dismissed in 2012. He challenged his dismissal on the basis that it was an unlawful breach of contract, filing an application at the Labour Court which was dismissed for falling outside of the Court’s purview.
“The whistleblower approached the Public Protector to file a complaint of occupational detriment against the municipality as a result of having made a protected disclosure,” said Narrandes.
She said her investigation into Bloem’s allegations of misconduct and victimisation not only vindicated his concerns, but also confirmed that he had indeed suffered financial and emotional prejudice as a result of his whistleblowing. Narrandes said this detriment amounts to a contravention of Section 3 of the PDA, allowing for remedies as outlined in Section 4 to be put in place.
Meanwhile, the Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) spokesperson, Ricky Oliphant said they will take the matter on review again.
“The municipality is aware of the judgement. The municipality is unable to respond to the questions as the matter is sub judice as certain aspects of the judgement are being challenged,” he said.
The Guardian 