Wits’ Themba Maseko doubts embattled Justice Minister will ensure whistleblower protection

University of the Witwatersrand School of Governance head and whistleblower Themba Maseko said he is not confident that newly appointed Minister of Justice Thembi Simelane will be able to move forward with former Chief Justice Raymond Zondo’s proposal on strengthening the protection of whistleblowers, mostly as she is implicated in a scandal of corruption. Simelane met with the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development on Friday, following allegations levelled against her, relating to a VBS Mutual Bank loan. Maseko noted Zondo’s “positive move” in supporting the protection of whistleblowers. “The only unfortunate thing now is that the Minister [Ronald Lamola] who was supposed to do this, is now the Minister of International Affairs. I am not sure if the new Minister [Simelane] will be able to move forward with that proposal, largely as you may know, she is appearing in Parliament today to account for benefiting from the VBS deal or corruption that took place in Limpopo,” he said. Zondo, in his State Capture Inquiry, made recommendations for the establishment of an anti-corruption agency, that should house a division for whistleblowers to provide legal protection, social-psychological and health resources.