Using the law to frustrate, rather than support, whistle-blowers

Whistle-blowers and their challenges and potential hardships have been in the news lately. Plans to amend the legislation governing their protection are in motion – though not at the urgent speed we would like to see. Civil society organisations, including Corruption Watch, have been asking for meaningful changes for years, and it is only with Read more >

Lamola: Public must invoke Mandela spirit in guiding whistle-blower law changes

Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Ronald Lamola urged members of the public to make meaningful contributions to the discussion document released by his department in June on amendments to whistle-blower protection legislation. Lamola delivered the keynote address at a symposium on the topic, hosted by the Public Service Commission (PSC) on Friday. In contributing, Read more >

CW adds voice to UN report on women human rights defenders

Corruption Watch (CW) heeded the call to input into the next report of the Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, which will be presented to the UN General Assembly in October 2023. Submissions were to centre on the specific challenges faced by women human rights defenders (WHRDs) working in conflict, post-conflict, or crisis-affected settings. With Read more >

African anti-corruption research network launched

In May 2023 the African Union (AU) announced the launch of the African Anti-Corruption Research Network (AACRN), during a pan-African workshop held in the second week of May in Arusha, Tanzania. The workshop, convened in collaboration with Stellenbosch University and GIZ, aimed to gather key anti-corruption stakeholders to brainstorm on the idea of the establishment Read more >

Zuma in Russia, while DCS ponders next steps

As former president Jacob Zuma receives medical treatment for an undisclosed illness in Russia, the National Department of Correctional Services (DCS) here at home is seeking legal advice on the next steps, following the Constitutional Court’s ruling on Thursday upheld the Supreme Court of Appeal’s order that Zuma’s medical parole by the Department of Correctional Read more >

SA public has say in how whistle-blowers should be protected

It may have taken the state capture commission and its recommendations for us to get here, but government is finally taking stock of the many public submissions from whistle-blowers, whistle-blower advocacy organisations, and civil society organisations in amending our whistle-blower protection regime. The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development has released a discussion paper for Read more >