SA Govt Reaffirms Whistleblower Protection at Babita Deokaran Annual Lecture

Hlabisa called the murder a “national wake-up call,” urging the country to recognise the dangers faced by those who expose wrongdoing.

The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa, has reinforced the government’s commitment to protecting whistleblowers and rebuilding ethical governance in South Africa. His remarks were delivered during the inaugural Annual Babita Deokaran Lecture on Tuesday—an event dedicated to honouring whistleblowers and advancing anti-corruption reforms.

The Minister’s message came amid national outrage over the killing of Marius van der Merwe, widely known as “Witness D”, who was assassinated outside his Brakpan home last Friday. Hlabisa called the murder a “national wake-up call,” urging the country to recognise the dangers faced by those who expose wrongdoing.

Honouring Deokaran’s Legacy

The lecture, hosted by the Anti-Corruption Centre for Education and Research (ACCERUS) at Stellenbosch University’s School of Public Leadership, marks four years since the assassination of Babita Deokaran on 23 August 2021.

Deokaran, then Acting CFO of the Gauteng Department of Health, was a central witness in an investigation into fraudulent PPE procurement during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her vigilance prevented over R850 million in suspicious payments at Tembisa Hospital, turning her into a national symbol of integrity and ethical courage.

The PPE scandal, which unfolded during the height of the pandemic, exposed widespread tender manipulation, price inflation, and systemic failures in oversight mechanisms. Deokaran’s killing remains one of South Africa’s most disturbing reminders of the risks faced by whistleblowers.

Government’s Reform Commitments

During his keynote address, Hlabisa outlined a series of government interventions aimed at creating a safer environment for whistleblowers while strengthening accountability at all levels of the state.

Key commitments announced include:

• Fast-tracking the Whistleblower Protection Bill and expanding its coverage beyond employees.

• Criminalising threats and retaliation against whistleblowers.

• Enabling anonymous disclosures, with state-funded legal, security, and psychosocial support.

• Introducing mandatory municipal whistleblower protocols, enforcing compliance through the Auditor-General’s authority.

• Establishing a Whistleblower Security Compact with law enforcement for rapid response to threats.

• Creating public-facing dashboards to track corruption cases and remedial actions.

• Enforcing certificates of debt for officials who ignore accountability directives.

“These reforms are not symbolic,” Hlabisa said. “Babita was killed because she blocked illicit payments. Witness D was killed because he exposed collusion. We will not honour their sacrifice with platitudes but with policy, protection, and accountability.”

Calls for Institutional Overhaul

Speakers from civil society, academia, and government emphasised that protecting whistleblowers is essential for the survival of democratic governance. Recommendations included:

• Establishing an Independent Whistleblower Protection Office

• Creating a Whistle Protection Fund for long-term support

• Building a secure national reporting platform for corruption disclosures

• Providing trauma care, digital security support, and reintegration programmes for whistleblowers

• Ensuring family and livelihood support for those forced into hiding or displaced due to threats

The event also helped mobilise partnerships with anti-corruption organisations for training, data analysis, and community-based reporting initiatives.

Aligning With International Anti-Corruption Day

Hlabisa’s remarks coincided with International Anti-Corruption Day, observed under the theme “Uniting with Youth Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow’s Integrity.” The Minister stressed that a whole-of-society response—government, business, civil society, and citizens—is necessary to defeat systemic corruption.

He reiterated that safeguarding whistleblowers is central to restoring public trust and enabling law enforcement agencies to effectively prosecute complex corruption cases. Strengthening governance structures, enhancing prosecutorial capacity, and ensuring transparent procurement remain national priorities.