The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) wants Parliament to strengthen the proposed Protected Disclosures Bill to provide immediate emergency support to whistleblowers, warning of insufficiencies in the Bill.
On Thursday, Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mamoloko Kubayi officially released the proposed Protected Disclosures Bill, calling for stakeholders across civil society, business, and labour to submit input by May 14.
Outa welcomed the Bill as a “necessary admission” that existing whistleblower protections have failed many.
The organisation noted positive improvements in the new Bill, including expanded coverage beyond traditional employees, safeguards for family members and associates, enhanced confidentiality, better reporting procedures, and stronger remedies against retaliation.
However, Outa executive director Stefanie Fick said of critical concern is the practicality of whistleblower protection when faced with powerful, well-resourced opponents, such as politically connected employers or institutions with extensive legal teams.
Fick believes the Bill remains insufficient because it does not fully address the lived reality of whistleblowers, who frequently endure fake charges, financial ruin, reputational damage, family intimidation, and even assassination.
By relying heavily on existing systems and requiring whistleblowers to navigate complicated, expensive legal processes, the Bill fails to offer immediate, proactive protection, she added.
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