Whistle-blower wins first round in battle against Parliament

Parliament\'s lawyers had raised an ‘exception’ to Charlton\'s claim, seeking a ruling on whether his challenge was legally sound, says a report on the Mail & Guardian Online site. They had argued that he was not protected by whistle-blower legislation (the Protected Disclosures Act) on his Travelgate disclosures. However, according to a Business Day report Acting Judge Mzo Ngcamu said it would be a ‘national embarrassment’ to suggest that Parliament’s former CFO was not protected by whistle-blower legislation. SABC News quotes Luzuko Jacobs, Parliament\'s head of public affairs, as saying: ‘The courts decision merely indicates that the case may now proceed on the basis of the claim made by Mr Charlton that he is a whistle-blower. Parliament still disputes this of course and it will be incumbent upon both parties to provide evidence.’ Full report on Mail & Guardian Online site Full SABC News report Full Business Day report