Whistleblowers should be protected, encouraged not vilified

ONCE upon a time, a former American National Security Agency contractor and whistleblower observed: "When exposing a crime is treated as committing a crime, you are being ruled by criminals." Edward Snowden.

- BLESSED GWALA

This profound statement underscores a fundamental truth: in a just and ethical society, exposing wrongdoing should be protected and encouraged. However, when whistle-blowers are vilified or punished, it reveals a state where those in power are either complicit in or benefiting from unlawful conduct. It is a chilling warning about the dangers of systemic corruption and authoritarian rule.

Tragically, this very dynamic now appears to be taking root in South Africa, where our police service is increasingly plagued by scandal, internal sabotage, and high-level criminal infiltration.

It is positively staggering that we have politicians who masquerade as docile lambs by day, only to prowl as rapacious wolves by night. These charlatans not only turn a blind eye to criminality; they actively enable it when it suits their ambition.

Some are so unscrupulous, they'd fleece a flea and auction its hide to the highest bidder if it meant a sniff of power or personal gain. Their duplicity is not merely shameful; it's a masterclass in moral bankruptcy.

A truly professional police force must stand shoulder to shoulder with communities, uphold its constitutional mandate, and resist being compromised by criminal syndicates. Officers must honour their oath, not undermine it.

Those with a genuine calling to serve must make bold and often dangerous choices in the name of truth and justice. In this regard, Lietentant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has emerged as a rare and commendable beacon of integrity.

We salute and commend the KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner for his fearless stand in the face of immense pressure and personal risk. His courage to expose the rot within the SAPS has reignited public confidence, inspired moral courage within the ranks, and given South Africans a glimpse of what true, principled policing should look like.