Central SA
Calls grow for stronger whistle-blower protection─── ZENANDE MPAME 12:32 Wed, 26 Aug 2026
As South Africa looks ahead to potentially stronger protections for whistle-blowers, the focus is shifting to whether the revised Protected Disclosures Bill will provide the support needed by those who expose wrongdoing.
The Bill is intended to strengthen South Africa’s legal framework for protecting and supporting whistle-blowers who expose corruption, misconduct, and other wrongdoing. The development comes as South Africa marks five years since the assassination of whistle-blower Babita Deokaran, whose murder has renewed calls for stronger protection for those who speak out against corruption.
The department of justice and constitutional development said it has received a significant number of submissions from organisations and individuals regarding the proposed legislation. The department said the comments will now be incorporated into the draft legislation before it is submitted to parliament.
Speaking to SABC News Whistleblower House CEO Ben Theron said his organisation was encouraged by some of the provisions contained in the bill, particularly because they address several areas of support the organisation has been providing to whistle-blowers since its establishment.
“The bill was published earlier this year and opened for public comment for a month,” said Theron. “The next step will be important for organisations such as Whistleblower House to assess how the public submissions have been incorporated.
“We are very eager for that bill to become available for public comment again. Even if the revised bill were published in September, it could take about three years to move through all the necessary processes before whistle-blowers begin experiencing its effects.
“Whistle-blowers need support before, rather than only after; they suffer consequences for reporting wrongdoing. Many people become whistle-blowers unintentionally after discovering wrongdoing at their workplaces.”
By the time they realise they need assistance, they may already have been victimised or dismissed and could be facing financial hardship. Whistle-blowers need legal advice, security, psychological support, and financial assistance, he said.
The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse’s They Have Names campaign has honoured whistle-blowers including Deokaran, Martha Mani Rantsofu, Mpho Mafole, Armand Swart, and Marius van der Merwe.
Outa says laws alone are insufficient if whistle-blowers continue to face intimidation, retaliation, and assassination.
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