South Africa Cannot Allow Truth-Tellers to Be Hunted — and Then Bankrupted

Johannesburg, Saturday, 6 December 2025 — Government must stop shifting blame onto the media for the assassination of Witness D. The truth is those implicated by his testimony before Madlanga Commission would have known his identity regardless of whether he testified in camera or not. The further revelation that Witness D — real name Marius van der Merwe — had been offered, but declined, entry into the state witness-protection programme should prompt a full, urgent review of that system: especially to probe why the protection on offer is perceived as unsuitable or even detrimental by those it purports to help.

We must recognise that witness protection — by nature — often means disruption of one’s life, income and stability. Until government addresses and mitigates these real, burdensome costs, most people in van der Merwe’s position will continue to reject it.

Beyond that, the State must confront the uncomfortable truth: corruption inside the police and related institutions — including the witness-protection programme itself — remains one of the strongest deterrents to coming forward. When the very guardians of justice are implicated in wrongdoing and collusion, the promise of safety rings hollow. As long as state actors continue to “run with the hares and hunt with the hounds,” the programme will remain fundamentally compromised and unattractive to potential whistle-blowers and witnesses.

"It is worth noting that some whistleblowers and witnesses — including some who may have already appeared before the Madlanga Commission — are being subjected to ruthless retaliation through multimillion-rand civil lawsuits, widely known as strategic action against public participation (SLAPP) actions. These are not mere legal disputes; they are calculated intimidation tactics deployed by the very individuals implicated in wrongdoing to silence accountability and exhaust their accusers, says Tebogo Khaas, chairperson of Public Interest SA.

"With no state support to defend themselves, whistleblowers and witnesses are forced to shoulder crippling legal costs that they simply cannot afford. This amounts to a cruel form of double jeopardy: for daring to speak the truth, they must not only fear for their lives — they must also fight against financial ruin. It is no surprise that such punitive tactics deter others from coming forward, undermining justice and emboldening those who abuse power," adds Khaas.

It is past time for the government to stop deflecting responsibility and start serious self-reflection. Civil society groups — including Public Interest SA and many others — have, for years, called for a thorough overhaul of our whistleblower and witness-protection systems. Their efforts have, so far, been met with bureaucratic inertia and lip-service.

We now demand nothing less than a complete and unconditional overhaul of the witness-protection regime — extending to all whistleblowers and reformed under independent oversight — without further delay.

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Issued by Public Interest SA.