In her address this weekend, Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi chose to explain away the assassination of Marius “Vlam” van der Merwe by suggesting he declined protection and implying that media transparency contributed to his murder.
This is an outrageous and disgraceful attempt to shift blame onto the victim, and away from the criminals who pulled the trigger, and the government that has left whistleblowers exposed for years.
Van der Merwe was not murdered because he ran a private security company. He was not murdered because the media sought transparency. He was murdered because he exposed corruption – and because criminals know they can act with impunity under Minister Kubayi’s watch.
For years, the ANC government has promised reforms to protect whistleblowers, only to deliver delay after delay. They have twiddled their thumbs while one whistleblower after another is assassinated. It has been more than two years since government published a discussion document on reforming whistleblower protections. Still, there is no Bill before Parliament.
The Zondo Commission spelled out exactly what legislative changes are needed:
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