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As South Africa prepares for the possible overhaul of its whistleblower legislation, Thandeka Gqubule-Mbeki, Lecturer at Rhodes University, journalist and former councillor on the National Anti-Corruption Council (NACAC), has highlighted the urgent need for stronger protections for those who expose corruption.
Speaking on camera ahead of the School of Journalism and Media Studies’ National Assembly, where investigative journalist Jeff Wicks will be the keynote guest, Thandeka outlined several reforms being proposed through a new generation of whistleblower legislation.
Thandeka served as the lead councillor at NACAC responsible for ensuring amendments to the Protected Disclosures Act of 2000, which governs whistleblower protections in South Africa. The council, working with the Department of Justice and civil society organisations, has been preparing proposals aimed at strengthening safeguards for those who report wrongdoing.
Among the proposed reforms is the criminalisation of retaliation against whistleblowers, including harassment, demotion, intimidation or dismissal. Any punitive workplace action against someone who exposes wrongdoing could be treated as a criminal offence.
The reforms would also expand the definition of a whistleblower, recognising that any citizen who reports corruption or wrongdoing should qualify for protection, even if they do not experience immediate victimisation.
Another key change would be broadening the range of institutions that can receive disclosures, including formally recognising the media as a legitimate channel for whistleblowers.
The proposed law also seeks to introduce clear timeframes for institutions to respond to disclosures, tougher penalties for ignoring whistleblower reports, and improved procedures for handling investigations.
Financial protections are also part of the proposal. A dedicated whistleblower protection fund and compensation mechanisms would support individuals who lose their jobs or livelihoods after exposing corruption.
“It must pay to be a whistleblower,” Thandeka said. “It must be something we valorize and honour instead of condemning as being a snitch.”
Her perspective is shaped not only by her work at NACAC but also by her collaboration with investigative journalist Jeff Wicks, who has documented corruption linked to the murder of whistleblower Babita Deokaran and the looting of Tembisa Hospital in his book The Shadow State. Their activism included organising marches and public campaigns demanding accountability.
As the Journalism Department prepares to host the National Assembly discussion with Jeff Wicks, Thandeka’s remarks highlight the crucial role both legislation and journalism play in protecting those who risk everything to expose corruption.