The Deadly Cost of Telling The Truth
I’ve written previously on the increasing number of deadly attacks on whistleblowers in South Africa who risked everything to expose corruption, often at the highest levels. But the recent murder of fellow professional Mpho Kabasi Mafole hit me harder than most.
The senseless and cowardly assassination of one of the forensic investigation profession’s most courageous souls both saddens and outrages me. It is obviously a tragic personal loss to his loved ones, but it is also a searing blow to all who believe in integrity, accountability and justice.
Mpho was the Group Divisional Head of Corporate and Group Forensic Audits at the City of Ekurhuleni. He stood fearlessly on the frontlines of one of the most difficult and dangerous battles in our country – the fight against corruption. His death is a stark reminder of the very real and present danger faced by the brave men and women who dedicate their lives to exposing the truth and challenging entrenched wrongdoing.
At his recent funeral, Ekurhuleni mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza hinted that his murder could be linked to the City’s R2bn revenue shortfall and the controversial R190m refurbishing of a building in Germiston that to date has cost the city over R300m. There has, at the time of writing, been no official confirmation or denial of this veiled allegation.
“Mafole was more than a government employee, he was an activist who believed in accountability and clean governance,” said Xhakaza. “The city and country have lost a man of integrity. We will continue to fight and make sure justice is served.”
Encouraging words, but ones, I feel, are uttered far too often in this country, yet never really translate into any meaningful action or outcome.
We sadly have far too many examples of the risks borne by those like Mpho who refuse to turn a blind eye. Their stories are all unique, but they all illustrate the struggle and danger for people simply trying to do the right thing for the people of our country.
Cloete and Thomas Murray, Babita Deokaran, Jimmy Mohlala, Moss Phakoe…these are just a few of South Africa’s brave heroes who paid the ultimate price for their honesty and integrity.
Yet has anyone been prosecuted for their deaths? No.
Dr Nora Saneka, chairperson of the Active Citizens Movement (ACM), said despite many promises, concrete action remained absent.
“While ‘hitmen’ involved in the killing of whistleblowers may occasionally face charges, the architects of these crimes evade accountability,” she said. “The unsolved murder of Babita Deokaran, for example, exposes systemic failure. Law enforcement and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) lack proactive strategies to target orchestrators, perpetuating a culture of impunity. Without high-level prosecutions, whistle-blowers remain vulnerable.”
In 2021, President Ramaphosa gave a commitment to the Zondo Commission, saying that whistleblowers “need better protection, both in law and in practice.”
In 2023, following the South African Department of Justice and Constitutional Development’s publication of proposed reforms for the whistleblower protection regime the President again made a commitment, this time to “finalise the Whistleblower Protection Framework and introduce the Whistleblower Protections Bill in Parliament during this financial year.”
Now, in 2025, nothing has been done. Whistleblowers continue to face real and significant threats to their physical safety, as well as jobs loss and/or hostility from within their workplace and industry.
“The delay in tabling the [Whistleblower Protection] bill and ignoring the need to implement interim measures demonstrates alarming inertia,” says Saneka. “Platitudes have not translated into legal safeguards, financial support, or psychological protection.
“South Africa’s anti-corruption efforts hinge on protecting those who risk everything. Delays betray whistle-blowers and embolden criminals. We appeal to President Ramaphosa to act now because lives and democracy hang in the balance.”
Saneka is just one of a growing number of voices calling for a stronger, more effective response from government.
Ben Theron is the chief executive officer of The Whistleblower House and says the government’s response to protecting whistle-blowers, has been “fragmented, disjointed, and poorly coordinated.”
“Existing mechanisms are ineffective, and the way they are managed is neither structured nor trusted by those who need protection,” he said. “The system lacks credibility and urgency.”
Stefanie Fick, executive director of the accountability division at Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA), is also demanding action, and feels the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the NPA have neither the resources nor expertise to tackle the killing of whistle-blowers.
She adds, “Too many whistle-blowers are on suspension awaiting disciplinary hearings because they decided to stand up against corrupt activities.”
The irony is, the government departments litigate against whistleblowers using taxpayers’ money, while the whistleblowers themselves are left without any financial support.
Devoshum Moodley-Veera is a PhD student specialising in ethics, anti-corruption, whistle-blowing protection, and law at the Stellenbosch University. She believes part of the problem is that we rely too heavily on the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) to follow up on whistleblower complaints.
She also feels the fact that law enforcement agencies appear reluctant to release numbers of how many complaints they’ve actually received makes it difficult to measure how successful they are at handling them.
She cites other challenges as:
An excessive dependency on civil society organisations and journalists to bring cases to light.
Poor consequence management for wrongdoers.
Individuals facing disciplinary proceedings are often allowed to resign before any action can be taken against them, meaning they can evade accountability and potentially move to other organisations, perpetuating the same problematic behaviours.
The use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) effectively silences whistle-blowers.
Koogan Pillay, a governance and human rights advocate, is another critic of the current situation, believing there is neither the political will nor the commitment to ethical governance and accountability.
“There is too much talk and very little action,” he said. “It has been three years since former Chief Justice Zondo submitted his report to President Ramaphosa and parliament. He recently conveyed his dismay at the lack of progress in implementing the recommendations in his report.
“If nothing is done to protect whistle-blowers, corruption will worsen to the point of rendering South Africa a failed state.”
As forensic investigator, it would be easy to become discouraged by the bleak picture I’ve just painted. But I refuse to do so, because that would not honour the memory of Mpho and other like him who have sacrificed everything for the cause.
Mpho, I will make sure your courage, sense of duty, and commitment to public service will not be forgotten. It is up to all of us in this profession to honour your legacy by continuing the work you gave your life for – with even greater determination, solidarity, and vigilance.
To Mpho’s family, colleagues, and everyone whose life he touched: my deepest condolences. May you find strength in his memory and comfort in knowing that he made a difference.
Rest in peace Mpho, safe in the knowledge that we will continue the fight.