The campaign comes as police investigations into the murder of Emfuleni municipal accountant Martha Mani Rantsofu continue to uncover the corruption allegations she reported shortly before she was killed.

The campaign was launched in support of Rantsofu and other whistleblowers who paid the ultimate price for exposing wrongdoing, while calling for justice, stronger protection and accountability.

The renewed campaign comes after Gauteng police confirmed the municipality’s R16m fleet procurement tender was among several corruption allegations reported by Rantsofu before she was assassinated at a vehicle fitment centre in Vanderbijlpark on 30 March.“The campaign exists to ensure courageous whistleblowers such as Martha Rantsofu, Babita Deokaran, Mpho Mafole, Armand Swart and Marius van der Merwe are never reduced to statistics or forgotten headlines,” said Outa spokesperson Ibanathi Ngcobo.

“Their sacrifices must continue to remind South Africans of the devastating personal cost that often comes with exposing corruption.

“While government has proposed amendments to the Protected Disclosures Act, we remain concerned the reforms still do not provide the practical protection whistleblowers urgently need.

“Every whistleblower who has paid the ultimate price for exposing corruption deserves to be remembered by name. We owe it to them and their families to continue demanding accountability while creating an environment where future whistleblowers can come forward without fearing for their lives.”

Police spokesperson Lt. Col. Amanda van Wyk recently revealed former municipal fleet manager Lerato Mpholo, 42, was linked to the tender fraud investigation following information supplied by Rantsofu and further investigations by the Gauteng Political Killings Task Team.

Mpholo will appear in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (29/7) for a formal bail application judgement. He is facing charges of fraud and corruption, and theft linked to the fleet tender.

Rantsofu also provided investigators with information relating to an alleged multimillion-rand revenue fraud scheme within Emfuleni’s revenue department shortly before her murder.

Businesswoman Janitha van Reenen, who has been denied bail twice, remains behind bars on fraud charges linked to an alleged R424,000 municipal account fraud that investigators believe was also uncovered by Rantsofu. 

Van Reenen is expected back in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate's Court on Thursday, 13 August.

“Laws alone are not enough if those who expose corruption continue to face intimidation, retaliation and even assassination,” said Ngcobo. “Outa remains committed to strengthening whistleblower protection, advancing accountability and ensuring justice is served.”

OFM News/Zenande Mpame dg

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