Political party ActionSA has revealed what it calls the Fallen Whistleblowers Bill. The document, also referred to as the Public Procurement Amendment Bill 2026, focuses on the sector widely acknowledged as being the most vulnerable to corruption because of risks such as the constant interaction between the public and private sectors, the large sums of money at stake, and the sheer volume of transactions happening at any given time.
In South Africa, the public procurement budget was R2.6-trillion in the 2024/2025 financial year, with more than R1-trillion spent on procuring goods and services.
“Corruption is not an abstract concept. It is not a victimless crime,” says the party in a statement. “Corruption kills. It robs South Africans of healthcare, clean water, education, safe communities and dignity. Worse still, it targets those brave enough to expose it.
“From Babita Deokaran to Marumo Eric Phenya, whistleblowers have paid with their lives while those implicated in corruption continue to enjoy political protection and impunity.”
The bill is named to honour those whose lives were taken to silence them. The most recent high-profile killing, that of former Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department official-turned-private-security-operative Marius van der Merwe on 5 December, mere weeks after he testified in camera at the Madlanga commission, came as a massive shock to exhausted South Africans who over the years have seen many courageous people fall to criminals who will...
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