BREAKING SILENCE OP-ED: Price of courage: Reward scheme must provide a proper set of incentives to whistleblowers (opens original article in a new tab)

South Africa's new whistleblower protection bill introduces reward mechanisms but faces criticism for limited scope and exclusions, with experts urging expanded incentives to combat corruption and protect whistleblowers.

• South Africa's Protected Disclosures Act has failed to protect whistleblowers from reprisals for 26 years
• The new Protected Disclosures Bill (2026) introduces rewards for whistleblowers but limits payments to criminal conviction fines and excludes public service employees
• Experts recommend expanding reward mechanisms to include civil damages and qui tam-style lawsuits to better incentivize whistleblowing
• The Zondo Commission and PARI research highlight the need for improved whistleblower protections to combat corruption