Public Interest SA Welcomes Announcement of Whistleblower Protection Bill in SONA 2026

JOHANNESBURG, Friday, 13 February 2026 — Public Interest SA welcomes President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement during the 2026 State of the Nation Address that a dedicated Whistleblower Protection Bill will be introduced in Parliament.

In his address, President Ramaphosa affirmed:

“We cannot accept that those who speak out against corruption are victimised and targeted. The Whistle-Blower Protection Bill will be introduced in Parliament. Among other things, this will criminalise retaliation and provide psychosocial, legal and financial support to whistle-blowers. And there will be a special focus on restructuring our procurement system with a view to ending corruption.”

This commitment marks a significant milestone in South Africa’s ongoing efforts to strengthen accountability and combat corruption. For several years, Public Interest SA, alongside other civil society organisations, has consistently advocated for comprehensive reform of the whistleblower legislative framework to ensure meaningful protection for those who expose wrongdoing.

The President’s announcement reinforces earlier commitments made by Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Andre Nel, during the Whistleblowers Summit hosted by Public Interest SA in October last year.

In his keynote address, Deputy Minister Nel confirmed that a Bill had been finalised and was expected to be published for public comment. He further outlined the intention of the Department of Justice, in collaboration with the South African Law Reform Commission, to review the Protected Disclosures Act (PDA) and related legislation in order to establish a comprehensive whistleblower protection framework.

According to the Deputy Minister, the reform process aims to:

• Broaden the definition of “whistleblower” to include contractors, consultants, and members of the public;

• Establish clear procedures for confidential disclosures;

• Strengthen remedies for occupational detriment;

• Clarify the obligations of employers to act on disclosures; and

• Align domestic legislation with international standards, including the UN Convention Against Corruption and the OECD Guidelines on Corporate Governance.

“The proposed criminalisation of retaliation, together with provision for psychosocial, legal, and financial support, represents a decisive shift towards recognising whistleblowers not merely as informants, but as essential actors in safeguarding the public interest,” said Tebogo Khaas, chairperson of Public Interest SA.

Public Interest SA commends government for reaching this critical juncture. Effective protection for whistleblowers and witnesses is indispensable to restoring integrity in public procurement, strengthening institutional accountability, and rebuilding public trust.

We look forward to the formal publication of the Bill and will make substantive submissions during the public participation process to ensure that the final legislation is robust, practical, and aligned with constitutional values.

This development provides renewed impetus for South Africa’s anti-corruption efforts and signals a growing recognition that those who speak out in defence of the public interest must be protected, not persecuted.

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Issued by: Public Interest SA