Roman Cabanac has lost his attempt to secure R5 million over his dismissal as former agriculture minister John Steenhuisen’s chief of staff.
Cabanac approached a public-sector bargaining council after his contract was terminated in June 2025.
He argued that his dismissal was unfair and sought either reinstatement or compensation for the income he claimed he would have earned.
However, the council reportedly ruled that it did not have jurisdiction to consider the unfair dismissal dispute.
The decision means Cabanac will not receive the R5 million he demanded through the proceedings.
Security clearance central to dispute
Cabanac was appointed as Steenhuisen’s chief of staff in August 2024.
His employment was reportedly conditional on obtaining the required security clearance for the senior government position.
The State Security Agency later declined to grant that clearance.
According to the ruling reported by News24, the clearance problem arose after Cabanac refused to renounce his French citizenship.
The bargaining council found that his appointment was dependent on meeting the security requirement and that his contract ended when he failed to secure clearance.
Cabanac challenged termination
Cabanac’s lawyers previously claimed that his contract had been ended without proper notice, reasons or a fair process.
They demanded that he be reinstated or paid R5 million for alleged lost income.
Steenhuisen’s office had maintained that security vetting formed part of the standard employment process for officials in Cabanac’s position.
Cabanac’s appointment had already attracted controversy because of earlier public remarks and social media posts.
Steenhuisen asked him to resign shortly after the appointment became public, but Cabanac remained in the position until his contract was terminated.
Further legal steps remain possible
The council’s decision dealt with whether it had authority to hear the labour dispute.
The supplied report does not indicate whether Cabanac intends to challenge the ruling through another legal process.
His dismissal followed months of uncertainty about his position and the security clearance required for his role.
For now, the bargaining council’s ruling has ended his R5 million claim through that forum.