Honouring pioneering individuals or platforms that harness the power of digital media with courage, creativity, and integrity to advance anti-corruption efforts, ethical behaviour, expose corruption, and inspire public accountability.
The Digital Courage Award recognises the bold and innovative use of digital platforms — particularly social media such as YouTube, X (Twitter), TikTok, Instagram, and others — to promote transparency, accountability, and the protection of whistleblowers. This award celebrates individuals, collectives, and platforms that leverage the power of digital storytelling, investigative content, and online advocacy to challenge corruption, amplify the voices of whistleblowers and anti-corruption crusaders, and inspire public engagement, especially among the youth.
It also recognises individuals, organisations, and platforms that demonstrate exceptional commitment to protecting digital rights, privacy, and ethical standards in the use of technology.
In an era where information spreads rapidly, digital platforms have become critical battlegrounds for truth and integrity. This Award honours those who, often at personal or professional risk, utilise these platforms to shine a light on misconduct, expose systemic failures, and galvanise civic action. By harnessing the reach and influence of the digital age, recipients of this award demonstrate not only the courage to speak out but also the creativity to mobilise audiences towards a culture of accountability.
The award affirms our commitment to recognising new frontiers in the fight against corruption and ensuring that the digital voices advocating for whistleblower rights are given the visibility, respect, and encouragement they deserve.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for consideration, nominees must:
Platform/Content Focus
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Be creators, collectives, or platforms using digital or social media (e.g., YouTube, TikTok, X, Instagram, Facebook, podcasts, blogs, or emerging digital spaces).
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Demonstrate a sustained commitment to whistleblowing, anticorruption advocacy, or protection of whistleblowers in South Africa.
Impact
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Show clear evidence of reach and influence (audience engagement, public debate sparked, policy or institutional responses, etc.).
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Demonstrate how their digital advocacy contributes to raising awareness, fostering accountability, ethics, or protecting whistleblowers.
Integrity & Ethics
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Uphold ethical standards of accuracy, fairness, and responsible use of digital platforms.
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Content must not incite hate speech, disinformation, or personal attacks outside of legitimate whistleblowing/anticorruption advocacy.
Geographic Scope
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Nominees must be South African or their digital work must have a substantial and demonstrable impact on South Africa.
Nomination Process
Who May Nominate
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Nominations may be submitted by civil society organisations, academic institutions, media houses, professional bodies, or members of the public.
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Self-nominations are permitted if supported by evidence of impact.
Submission Requirements
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A completed nomination form including:
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Nominee’s details (individual, collective, or platform).
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Links to relevant digital content or platforms.
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A motivation statement (max 1,000 words) outlining the nominee’s contribution to whistleblowing and anticorruption advocacy.
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At least two endorsements from individuals or organisations familiar with the nominee’s work.
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Evaluation
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Nominations will be assessed by an independent panel of judges on the following dimensions:
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Courage – willingness to confront corruption despite risks.
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Impact – measurable reach, influence, and contribution to accountability.
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Innovation – creative and effective use of digital media platforms.
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Integrity – adherence to ethical standards and responsible advocacy.
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Segment - substantial part of episode submitted must be dedicated to anti-corruption or whistleblowing.
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Previous Fallen Heroes of Integrity Honourees
Jimmy Mohlala
(Assassinated: 5 January 2009)
Moss Phakoe
(Assassinated: 14 March 2009)
Sindiso Magaqa
(Assassinated: 4 September 2017)
Jimmy Mohlala was a politician and the former Speaker of the Mbombela Local Municipality in Mpumalanga province. He gained national attention for his role as a whistleblower, particularly for exposing corruption related to the construction of the Mbombela Stadium, a venue built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Jimmy Mohlala's whistleblowing centred on allegations of corruption, fraud, and irregular tender processes in the construction of the Mbombela Stadium, a project intended for South Africa's World Cup preparations. In 2008, Mohlala uncovered fraudulent activities involving inflated contracts, irregular awarding of tenders, and other forms of financial mismanagement. He publicly accused Jacques Modipane, the CEO of the Mbombela 2010 Stadium Company, and other municipal officials of being involved in these corrupt practices. Mohlala's actions to expose this corruption put him at odds with powerful individuals and factions within the local political and business communities. Despite threats against his life, Mohlala remained committed to exposing the wrongdoing. He was reportedly working closely with law enforcement agencies and investigators at the time. On January 4, 2009, Jimmy Mohlala was shot and killed outside his home in Kanyamazane, a township near Nelspruit (now Mbombela). His son, who was with him during the attack, was injured but survived. It is widely believed that his murder was a direct result of his whistleblowing activities and his refusal to back down from exposing corruption linked to the World Cup project. Mohlala’s murder attracted national attention and sparked outrage, especially because it appeared to be politically motivated. Many suspected that his assassination was intended to silence him and prevent further exposure of corruption involving high-ranking municipal officials and businesspeople connected to the lucrative World Cup infrastructure projects. The investigation into his murder was slow and faced numerous challenges, including allegations of political interference. Despite initial arrests, no one was ultimately convicted for Mohlala's murder, leading to ongoing frustration among his family, supporters, and anti-corruption advocates. The lack of accountability for his assassination raised concerns about whistleblower protection and politically motivated killings in South Africa. Jimmy Mohlala’s assassination is another tragic example of the extreme risks faced by whistleblowers in South Africa, particularly those who expose corruption involving powerful political and business figures. His death highlighted the culture of impunity surrounding corruption in South Africa, where whistleblowers frequently face intimidation, violence, and even assassination for daring to reveal misconduct. Mohlala’s murder also underscored the corruption and malfeasance that marred parts of South Africa’s 2010 FIFA World Cup preparations, a global event that was supposed to showcase the country’s progress but was tarnished by allegations of fraud and financial mismanagement.
Moses Phakoe was a politician and anti-corruption whistleblower, who served as a councillor for the African National Congress (ANC) in the Rustenburg Local Municipality in North West province. He was also a prominent community activist with a long history of political involvement within the ANC and local government. Phakoe was shot and killed on March 14, 2009, shortly after he left his home. At the time of his assassination, he had been actively investigating and exposing corruption within the Rustenburg Municipality, specifically focusing on allegations of widespread mismanagement, irregular tender processes, and misuse of public funds. In the months leading up to his murder, Phakoe had submitted a dossier to senior ANC officials and government authorities, including then-North West Premier Thandi Modise, implicating high-ranking municipal officials in corruption. One of the people Phakoe accused of corruption was Matthew Wolmarans, the former mayor of Rustenburg. This whistleblowing made him a target, and it is widely believed that his murder was a direct result of his efforts to expose corruption. Following a lengthy investigation, in 2012, Matthew Wolmarans, the former mayor, and his bodyguard Eugene Kgwedi were convicted of Phakoe's murder. Wolmarans was sentenced to 20 years in prison, while Kgwedi received a 20-year suspended sentence. Wolmarans' conviction was based on evidence that showed his direct involvement in orchestrating the assassination of Phakoe, who had been an outspoken critic of corruption under Wolmarans' leadership. The conviction was seen as a significant victory for justice and whistleblower protection, highlighting the severe risks that whistleblowers face in South Africa's political landscape. Phakoe’s murder is emblematic of the dangers faced by whistleblowers in South Africa, especially those who speak out against corruption within the ruling ANC. His assassination underscored the violent consequences of exposing corruption, particularly at the local government level, where factional battles over resources and power are often intense. The killing also prompted widespread condemnation and highlighted the broader issue of politically motivated killings and intimidation of whistleblowers in South Africa. Despite legal protections for whistleblowers, many continue to face threats, violence, and assassination attempts for their efforts to expose corruption and maladministration in the country.
Sindiso Magaqa was a politician and former Secretary-General of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL). He served in this influential role during Julius Malema's tenure as the ANCYL's President. Magaqa was a well-known figure in the ANC, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, and was widely recognised for his youthful leadership and activism within the party. At the time of his death, Magaqa was a councillor in the Umzimkhulu Local Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal. He had earned a reputation for being outspoken against corruption and maladministration in the municipality, particularly in relation to the misuse of funds allocated for a multi-million rand project to refurbish a community hall. It is believed that his activism and vocal stance against local corruption contributed to his assassination. Sindiso Magaqa was shot multiple times in July 2017 in a drive-by shooting while in the company of two other ANC councillors. He initially survived the attack but later died in September 2017 due to complications from his injuries. His murder is widely believed to have been politically motivated, linked to the ongoing political violence and factional battles within the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal, where political killings have been rampant, particularly involving individuals who are vocal about exposing corruption. Magaqa’s death brought attention to the violent contest for power and resources in KwaZulu-Natal politics, where political assassinations have been disturbingly common. His assassination raised serious concerns about the safety of whistleblowers and politicians who attempt to expose wrongdoing, especially in local government structures. Following his death, there were numerous calls for justice and thorough investigations. In 2018, several arrests were made in connection to his murder. However, the political climate and continued killings in the province have made it difficult to determine the full extent of the involvement of higher political figures or criminal networks behind his assassination. Magaqa's death remains a powerful symbol of the dangers faced by those attempting to challenge entrenched corruption within South African politics, particularly at the local government level.
They sacrificed their lives to help make our democracy work!
Babita Deokaran
(Assassinated: 23 August 2021)
Marumo Phenya
(Assassinated: 17 October 2022)
Babita Deokaran was a senior official at the Gauteng Department of Health in South Africa, serving as the Chief Director of Financial Accounting. She was a key whistleblower in exposing widespread corruption and fraudulent activities, particularly related to the COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE) procurement scandal in South Africa. Her role as a government official placed her in a critical position to identify and report irregular financial activities within the department. Babita Deokaran was assassinated on August 23, 2021, in Johannesburg, shortly after dropping off her child at school. She was shot multiple times outside her home, in what was widely seen as a targeted hit. Deokaran had been a key witness in investigations into corruption within the Gauteng Health Department, especially concerning the fraudulent awarding of contracts for PPE supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic. She had raised alarms about suspicious payments and irregularities, and her whistleblowing efforts were central to ongoing probes into high-level corruption. At the time of her murder, Deokaran had provided crucial evidence to law enforcement agencies, including the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), which was investigating billions of rands in fraudulent PPE contracts. Her assassination is believed to be directly linked to her role in uncovering this corruption, as she posed a serious threat to individuals involved in illegal activities within the department. The murder of Babita Deokaran highlighted the extreme dangers faced by whistleblowers in South Africa and underscored the urgent need for better protection and support for individuals exposing corruption. Several suspects were arrested in connection with her murder, but concerns remain over whether the masterminds behind the assassination have been held accountable.
Marumo Eric Phenya was a South African businessman and whistleblower who became a victim of targeted violence after exposing corruption. He was instrumental in revealing irregularities surrounding a multimillion-rand tender within the Department of Home Affairs. Phenya had reportedly been receiving death threats prior to his murder due to his efforts in exposing this corruption. Phenya was killed in a hail of bullets, an act widely believed to be linked to his whistleblowing activities. His tragic death underscores the dangerous environment faced by whistleblowers in South Africa, particularly those exposing high-level corruption. Phenya's murder exemplifies the risks whistleblowers face in seeking to uphold transparency and accountability within both the public and private sectors.