ACM call for the president’s action in support of whistle-blowers

THE Active Citizens Movement (ACM) calls for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s accountability regarding the protection of whistleblowers.

Following his statement on Thursday, April 29, at the State Capture Commission (SCC) in his closing remarks on behalf of the ANC, the president said the brave men and women of the country who blew the whistle were in many instances not treated well.

“We, therefore, need to have some process, legislation for being able to protect whistle-blowers,” he said.

ACM’s acting chairperson, Yashica Padia, said the large-scale victimisation of and threats against whistle-blowers revealed at the SCC exposed the failure of the Protected Disclosures Act of 2000 (PDA) to protect whistle-blowers.

“We owe them a huge debt, as the guardians of our country’s future. We, along with many whistle-blowers and other allies, have submitted proposals to the SCC to amend the PDA and other laws.”

“Our demands are to include in the definition of a whistle-blower, all persons who have knowledge of wrong-doing, not only employees,” she said.

The civil organisation’s other demands include a provision for a specialised court for whistle-blowing cases, penalties paid personally by those found guilty of harassment to whistle-blowers, and the removal of superiors from positions of authority to curb influence or intimidation on investigations.

“Mr President, the time for talking is over. Now it is time to act. We demand immediate protection for whistle-blowers in the public and private sectors.”

“We demand urgent changes to the law and we demand that you consult with whistle-blowers and their organisations,” Padia added.

ACM was established in July 2017 as a citizen-activist movement. It has strongly supported the cause of whistle-blowers who have spoken out against corruption at tremendous personal cost – affecting their physical and mental health, family life, dismissal from and inability to find work, and crippling legal bills resulting in financial ruin.  

DID YOU KNOW? Click on the words highlighted in red to read more on this and related topics. To receive news links via WhatsApp or Telegram, send an invite to 061 876 3179. The Southlands Sun is also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – why not join us there?

Do you have more information pertaining to this story? Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist. (Comments posted on this issue may be used for publication in the Sun).