Spy war at PetroSA

Papers filed in a court case shed light on a bizarre spy war at PetroSA that involved a bug sweep by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

At the same time, worker protests have erupted at the parastatal over the suspension of a trade union member, allegedly for leaking information to the Mail & Guardian after his emails were searched by management.

Workers allege a general witch-hunt against critics and dissenters at PetroSA. They link it to management's fears that criticism could derail a huge expansion programme planned at the parastatal.

The "spy versus spy" allegations are contained in papers filed last month in the Cape Town Labour Court by former senior PetroSA investigator Lerato Lesole, who is suing the parastatal for unfair dismissal and demanding immediate reinstatement.

Lesole was investigating PetroSA's chief executive, Sipho Mkhize, and the chief financial officer, Nkosemntu Nika, before he got the chop.

His probe was sparked by a claim by an internal whistle-blower in 2007 that Nika might be involved in fraudulent activities and that Mkhize was involved in tender irregularities relating to the desludging of PetroSA's Milnerton oil tanks.

Source: Mail & Guardian