Response to Allegations Concerning the 2026 Whistleblowers Awards & Summit

JOHANNESBURG | 9 September 2026 — Public Interest SA has noted media enquiries concerning representations reportedly made to former Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga by certain individuals and organisations within the whistleblower community regarding Public Interest SA Chairperson Tebogo Khaas and the 2026 Whistleblowers Awards.

The representations arise principally from a WhatsApp communication in which Ms Nicole Fritz, former executive director of the Helen Suzman Foundation and founder of Campaign for Free Speech, made certain assertions concerning March and March and Public Interest SA’s alleged association with or endorsement of that organisation.

Public Interest SA wishes to place the following facts on record.

Mr Khaas shared the relevant communication with Ms Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma because her organisation was directly implicated in the assertions made and clarification was sought regarding their basis. Public Interest SA had neither endorsed March and March nor associated itself with any alleged unlawful conduct attributed to the organisation. On the contrary, Public Interest SA had publicly advocated that any protest action should be conducted peacefully and within the bounds of the law. The said media statement can be read here.

As an organisation committed to the rule of law and ethical governance, Public Interest SA considered allegations suggesting that it had endorsed an organisation accused of promoting unlawful conduct sufficiently serious to warrant clarification.

Public Interest SA did not author, commission, encourage or participate in any subsequent Facebook publication concerning Ms Fritz. Neither Mr Khaas nor Public Interest SA instructed, encouraged or incited anyone to subject Ms Fritz to hostility or abuse on social media.

We unequivocally reject reports of abusive, threatening or demeaning attacks against Ms Fritz — or against any person — irrespective of disagreements that may exist between individuals or organisations. Robust disagreement does not confer a licence to abuse, intimidate or harass.

It is therefore both inaccurate and unfair to conflate the limited sharing of a communication with a person directly implicated in its contents, for purposes of seeking clarification, with subsequent actions independently undertaken by third parties.

Public Interest SA has furnished Justice Madlanga with a substantive written response to the representations made against Mr Khaas and the organisation. That response addresses the allegations, their context and the sequence of events in detail. We have respected the Justice’s process and have sought throughout to deal with the matter transparently and in good faith.

We are also concerned that correspondence addressed to Justice Madlanga concerning this matter subsequently found its way into the hands of journalists while the matter was being dealt with directly with him. The apparent leaking of correspondence forming part of what ought to have been a fair and dignified process risks converting a legitimate disagreement within civil society into a trial by media.

Public Interest SA will not participate in personal attacks against any of the individuals or organisations concerned. Differences within the whistleblower and civil-society community should be capable of resolution through dialogue, evidence and mutual respect rather than public vilification.

We have, in fact, supported efforts aimed at mediation and constructive engagement.

Regarding reports that Justice Madlanga has withdrawn as keynote speaker at the Whistleblowers Awards on 26 October 2026, Public Interest SA will not speculate on the Justice’s position or attribute reasons to him that he has not himself communicated. Any formal development concerning the programme will be communicated by Public Interest SA at the appropriate time.

The 2026 Whistleblowers Awards & Summit is bigger than any individual or organisation. It exists to honour the extraordinary courage of whistleblowers, remember those who have paid the ultimate price for exposing wrongdoing, recognise the sacrifices borne by their families, and strengthen South Africa’s whistleblower and witness-protection ecosystem.

Attempts to reduce this important national initiative to disagreements between personalities risk obscuring the very people whom the Awards and Summit were established to honour.

Public Interest SA remains committed to proceeding with the 2026 Whistleblowers Awards & Summit on 26 and 27 October 2026 and to ensuring that the initiative remains focused on its central purpose: Honouring Courage, Inspiring Integrity.

We remain open to constructive engagement with all stakeholders who share that objective.

ENDS

Issued by: Public Interest SA