Minister Must Fast-Track Whistleblower Reforms

ActionSA is deeply concerned by reports of the killing of an alleged whistleblower (Editor: Martha Mani Rantsofu) in Emfuleni. This tragic incident reflects an all-too-familiar pattern in South Africa, where those who risk their lives to expose corruption and wrongdoing are left vulnerable and unprotected.

As investigations into this crime continue, we reiterate our urgent call for coherent and robust whistleblower protection legislation to be prioritised and passed by Parliament.

In January this year, ActionSA introduced the Fallen Whistleblower Bill, aimed at strengthening protections, introducing incentivisation and private prosecutions. This followed growing recognition that the current framework, including the Protected Disclosures Act, is insufficient to safeguard whistleblowers.

Furthermore, just last week ActionSA formally requested an urgent meeting with the Minister of Justice in light of the Executive’s proposed amendments to the Protected Disclosures Act. Despite the urgency of this matter, we are still awaiting a response from the Minister.

ActionSA calls on the Minister of Justice to urgently engage on this matter and to work collaboratively to fast-track meaningful legislative reform before more Whistleblowers become statistics.

ActionSA Economic Stance: Supports a free-market economy with reduced red tape.

Who was Martha Mani Rantsofu?

Martha Mani Rantsofu (40) was a senior clerk and accountant in the finance department of the Emfuleni Local Municipality.

She was a mother of three; her eldest daughter is currently in her matric year. She was known to her family as someone who took her job seriously, which reportedly led to the uncovering of significant financial irregularities.

What Happened?

Martha was assassinated in broad daylight while waiting for her vehicle at a tyre-fitting shop.

CCTV footage shows an unknown gunman walking up behind her and firing multiple shots into her head before fleeing in a getaway car. The cold and calculated nature of the hit has led many to classify it as a professional assassination rather than a random act of crime.

Where and When?

The shooting occurred in Vanderbijlpark on Monday, 30 March 2026, just metres away from the Vanderbijlpark police station. She was laid to rest on April 11, 2026.

Why was She Killed? (the Allegations)

While the police investigation is ongoing, several civil society and political groups (including COSATU, ActionSA and the DA) have labeled her a whistleblower.

It is alleged that she discovered a “multimillion-rand bribery scheme” where municipal employees were wiping off debt from household and business accounts in exchange for kickbacks.

There are further reports that she was investigating a fraudulent R16 million fleet procurement deal where several newly acquired vehicles had gone missing.

Her family confirmed that Martha had expressed fear for her life in the weeks leading up to the shooting and had reportedly opened a case with the Hawks against colleagues she believed were implicated in the corruption.

Current Status

The Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) took over the docket after her funeral. The Emfuleni Municipality initially denied that she was a whistleblower, appealing for an end to “misinformation,” but the involvement of the PKTT and the public statements from COSATU suggest a strong link between her work in the finance department and her death.

As of late April 2026, the gunman and the masterminds behind the hit have not yet been arrested.