The police ministry is not working on any legislation to protect whistleblowers, and has not considered the matter for several years. Protection for those speaking out against corruption at all levels has been a talking point for several years, with reforms lingering only as proposals. Calls for protection have not only extended to whistleblowers, but also to legal and financial professionals who investigate corruption.
Police portfolio committee chair Ian Cameron queried in November when the last threat assessments for private professionals involved in state capture or other corruption investigations were undertaken. He also asked the ministry whether legislation to protect whistleblowers was currently being drafted. In a response published this week, the ministry said such evaluations had not been done for at least five years.
Regarding legislation, it explained that whistleblower protections fall under the Witness Protection Act and the Protected Disclosures Act, which are overseen by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DJCD). “Saps will, however, continue to support the DJCD initiatives to revise and strengthen the legislation to ensure effective measures are provided to assist and protect whistleblowers.” When asked whether protection for parliamentarians had been considered, the ministry also replied in the negative. “The security of parliament falls with the mandate of the Head of Security of Parliament.
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Saps has no plans to take over the role or responsibility of professional protection in parliament,” the ministry concluded. In June 2023, a discussion document recommended the Whistleblower Protection Amendment Bill, but two years on, the improved legislation is still a proposal.
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