Honouring Babita Deokaran: A call for justice and protection in South Africa

On National Women's Day, we pay tribute to courageous whistleblowers like Babita Deokaran, who made the ultimate sacrifice for justice and integrity in South Africa. Dr. Nora Saneka, Chairperson of the Active Citizens Movement, urges urgent reforms to safeguard those who expose corruption and uphold the rule of law. As we gather on this day, we recognize the bravery of those who have stood against unjust power in pursuit of human rights and moral goodness.

In 1956, women demonstrated extraordinary courage by marching to Pretoria, and we echo their call against corruption that plagues our public health system.

In July 2021, the "Shadow State" used force to undermine the rule of law and blackmail the government to protect President Zuma. This led to the looting of major corporations and the exploitation of the poor. We call for a strong civil society and an independent press, especially in an era where social media spreads disinformation and misinformation.

We remember Babita Deokaran, Jimmy Mohlala, Martha Ngoye, Cynthia Stimpel, Athol Williams, and countless others who faced significant personal costs while exposing corruption in government and state-owned enterprises.

President Cyril Ramaphosa committed to finalizing the Whistleblower Protection Framework and introducing the Whistleblower Protections Bill in Parliament during the 2024 financial year. ACM submitted specific legal whistleblower protections to be considered in this bill. However, the government's commitment must be translated into concrete actions for whistleblowers' rights to life, security, privacy, and freedom of expression to be protected.

The Madlanga Commission has exposed corruption within our law enforcement, and several whistleblowers have been assassinated, including Van der Merwe, Phenya, and others. We must continue to fight for justice for Babita Deokaran and other whistleblowers who have been silenced by corruption.