Image: Timothy Bernard Independent Media
Civil society organisations led by Corruption Watch have warned that serious shortcomings in the proposed Protected Disclosures Bill and limited public awareness threaten meaningful reform of whistleblower protections.
The coalition has urged Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi to extend the deadline for public submissions, which closes on Thursday.
The Bill seeks to overhaul South Africa’s whistleblower protection framework by introducing stronger safeguards, clearer reporting procedures and financial incentives for individuals who disclose wrongdoing.
Kubayi gazetted the Bill on April 9, with the intention of repealing and replacing the existing Protected Disclosures Act of 2000, which has faced criticism for failing to adequately protect whistleblowers.
Image: File
The coalition said it had identified eight critical gaps in the Bill that require urgent attention.
These include broader protections for whistleblowers, compensation for job losses and reforms to reporting mechanisms that could expose whistleblowers to further risk.
At a media briefing held at the SECTION27 offices in Braamfontein on Wednesday, former South African Airways whistleblower Cynthia Stimpel described the “journey of loss” faced by whistleblowers, saying the consequences often extend beyond losing employment.
Speaking on behalf of Open Secrets, Luthando Vilakazi said whistleblower protection was a national issue that required urgent intervention.
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