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There are too many loopholes in whistleblower protection: Thuli Madonsela

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Former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela says there are too many gaps and loopholes when it comes to protecting whistleblowers. Madonsela was speaking in a webinar organised by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) under the banner of the Health Sector Anti-Corruption Forum focused on whistle-blowing and witness protection.  

This is in the wake of the brutal killing of a senior Gauteng Health Department official, Babita Doekaran who was shot and killed last month.  

Doekaran was a key witness in the SIU’s investigation into the department’s multimillion-ran PPE tender scandal. 

Madonsela says government should tighten the link of the witness protection act.  

Madonsela feels like witnesses and whistleblowers are not adequately protected in South Africa.  

She says she was very disappointed the other day to come across a campaign by a government department calling for whistleblowers to come forward, but referred to them as impimpi. 

“They had said impimpi. I couldn’t believe my eyes. How could a government department call a whistleblower impimpi because impipis is people who got burned alive during apartheid because they were regarded as enemies of the people. So, therefore, a whistleblower needs a better name.” 

Around 90% of the matters that are investigated by the SIU are procurement related.  

SIU Head, Andy Mothibi says this is because that’s where money is involved. He says when witnesses or their family members feel threatened, they should report the matter immediately with the police or the SIU.  

Mothibi says the Health Sector Anti-Corruption forum has been in existence since 2019 because there has already been issues in the department. 

“By the way, the Health Sector anti-corruption forum was born out of the government’s initiative to fight corruption in those vulnerable sectors. A risk assessment was done and the health sector was one of those where we started. It was launched by the president. And all the parties are putting traction to ensure that the fight in this sector is tightened.” 

Special Director of Public Prosecutions at the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Willie Hofmeyr says South Africa is at a time where it needs radical change where it’s dealing with whistleblowers and corruption.  

He’s suggesting that government should come up with a new institution headed by retired judges. 

“My suggestion is that we set up a new institution called The Office for Whistleblower Protection. And I think we should ask the Chief Justice to appoint some retired judges to run that office.” 

Importance of whistle blowing in fight against corruption in SA:

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