Media statement on President Cyril Ramaphosa ’s response to the Recommendations of The Judicial Commission of inquiry into State Capture, Corruption and Fraud
24 October 2022
The Whistleblower House welcomes the statements made by President Cyril Ramaphosa regarding the “Protection and Incentives for Whistleblowers”.
This includes a review of the Protected Disclosures Act and Witness Protection Act to ensure that:
- whistleblowers receive the necessary protections,
- the possible award to the whistleblower of a proportion of funds recovered; and
- whistleblowers be afforded immunity from criminal or civil action arising from honest disclosures.
We are especially heartened by the firm deadline of April 2023 given to the Anti-Corruption Advisory Council for these actions as it demonstrates the urgency and importance of, inter alia, protecting whistleblowers.
However, the recommendations and proposed actions fall short of the actual needs faced by whistleblowers.
The Whistleblower House was established to assist the whistleblower holistically. We have consulted and researched the challenges whistleblowers face and have developed a holistic range of services that could and should be offered by government. These include facilitating access for whistleblowers to legal advice, health services (including psychological), financial assistance and safe accommodation.
The dire need for these services is emphasized by the fact that The Whistleblower House has, since February 2022, assisted 91 whistleblowers, and their families where needed, with access to said services. We are geared to support many more whistleblowers on their journey before, and after, they come forward with vital information to fight and eradicate corruption in our young democracy.
We are ready to engage the Department of Justice and the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council to assist them in developing an appropriate strategy to protect and assist whistleblowers and their families.
Issued by Ben Theron on behalf of The Whistleblower House, 24 October 2022
