Addressing the failures in protection

WHILE whistle-blowers are at the front line in the war against corruption, organisations and activists do not believe enough is being done to protect them and to bring the “masterminds” behind some of their murders to book.

- NADIA KHAN

The killings of many whistle-blowers including Babita Deokaran, Pamela Mabini, Cloete Murray and his son, Thomas, among others, over the last few years, have sparked an outcry for the government and law enforcement agencies to be more proactive.

This includes tabling of the Whistle-blower Protection Bill and implementing recommendations made during the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture (Zondo Commission).

Dr Nora Saneka, chairperson of the Active Citizens Movement (ACM), said despite many promises, concrete action remained absent.

“In President Cyril Ramaphosa’s 2021 commitment to the Zondo Commission, he said: ‘We need to give whistle-blowers better protection, both in law and in practice. Without whistle-blowers, we will not be able to tackle corruption effectively.’

“Yet, nothing has been done. Whistle-blowers continue to face lethal threats, job loss and institutional hostility.

“The delay in tabling of the bill and ignoring the need to implement interim measures demonstrates alarming inertia. Platitudes have not translated into legal safeguards, financial support or psychological protection,” she said.

Saneka said while “hitmen” involved in the killing of whistle-blowers might occasionally face charges, the architects of these crimes evaded accountability.

“The unsolved murder of Babita Deokaran exposes systemic failure. Law enforcement and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) lack proactive strategies to target orchestrators, perpetuating a culture of impunity. Without high-level prosecutions, whistle-blowers remain vulnerable.”

Saneka said the ACM submitted comprehensive proposals to the Zondo Commission in 2021, and directly to Ramaphosa in January this year.