Key Takeaways:
- Two South African whistle-blowers, Tumiso Mphuthi and the late Pamela Mabini, have received international recognition at the 2025 Blueprint for Free Speech Awards.
- Mphuthi exposed large-scale procurement irregularities at the Construction Sector Education and Training Authority (Ceta), while Mabini alerted authorities to alleged sex trafficking linked to televangelist Timothy Omotoso.
- Mabini was shot dead outside her home in March 2025, and her award was accepted by a relative, who plans to use the prize money to grow the Maro Foundation, an NGO Mabini founded to support GBV survivors.
- Mphuthi’s whistle-blowing has ruined her career, but the award brings rare comfort after years of intimidation, professional victimization, and fear for her family’s safety.
- The awards highlight the need for stronger protection for whistle-blowers in South Africa, where many face victimization, intimidation, and even death for reporting wrongdoing.
Introduction to the Whistle-Blowers
The 2025 Blueprint for Free Speech Awards, announced during a virtual ceremony hosted by the BBC’s Razia Iqbal, recognized the bravery and sacrifice of two South African whistle-blowers, Tumiso Mphuthi and the late Pamela Mabini. Mphuthi exposed large-scale procurement irregularities at the Construction Sector Education and Training Authority (Ceta), while Mabini alerted authorities to alleged sex trafficking linked to televangelist Timothy Omotoso. The awards are a testament to the important role that whistle-blowers play in exposing wrongdoing and promoting accountability, and highlight the need for stronger protection for those who come forward to report misconduct.
The Story of Pamela Mabini
Pamela Mabini, a respected activist against gender-based violence, was shot dead outside her Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, home in March 2025. Her award was accepted by a relative, Luzuko Gaxamba, who said the recognition was more than symbolic. The family plans to use the prize money to grow the Maro Foundation, an NGO Mabini founded to support GBV survivors, offer advocacy, and provide development programs. Gaxamba described Mabini as a passionate community builder who abandoned formal employment to work full-time with vulnerable families. She became a key whistle-blower in the Omotoso case, supporting victims despite repeated threats. Mabini’s murder highlights the risks that whistle-blowers face in South Africa, and the need for stronger protection and support for those who come forward to report wrongdoing.
The Story of Tumiso Mphuthi
Tumiso Mphuthi, a supply-chain specialist at Ceta, began her journey at the organization in 2012, when it was under administration. She helped clean up the system, and by 2014, Ceta emerged from administration. However, trouble resurfaced in 2015 with the appointment of a new manager, who sidelined Mphuthi and ignored due process. Mphuthi began uncovering serious breaches, including tenders awarded to companies that had not attended compulsory briefing sessions, and fraudulent purchase orders worth millions allegedly processed through a subordinate acting on instructions from the CFO. In 2019, Mphuthi made a protected disclosure to the audit committee, but was later suspended and accused of the same irregularities she had reported. Mphuthi’s experience highlights the challenges that whistle-blowers face in South Africa, where they are often victimized, intimidated, and even killed for reporting wrongdoing.
The Need for Stronger Protection
The awards received by Mphuthi and Mabini highlight the need for stronger protection for whistle-blowers in South Africa. Many whistle-blowers face victimization, intimidation, and even death for reporting wrongdoing, and the country’s laws and institutions often fail to provide adequate support and protection. The case of Babita Deokaran, a whistle-blower who was murdered in 2021, is a stark reminder of the risks that whistle-blowers face. The South African government and civil society must work together to create a safe and supportive environment for whistle-blowers, and to ensure that those who come forward to report wrongdoing are protected and rewarded, rather than punished and silenced.
Conclusion
The 2025 Blueprint for Free Speech Awards are a testament to the bravery and sacrifice of Tumiso Mphuthi and the late Pamela Mabini, two South African whistle-blowers who risked everything to expose wrongdoing and promote accountability. Their stories highlight the need for stronger protection for whistle-blowers in South Africa, and the importance of creating a safe and supportive environment for those who come forward to report misconduct. The awards are a reminder that whistle-blowers are essential to promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance, and that their contributions must be recognized and valued. As the South African government and civil society work to create a more just and equitable society, they must prioritize the protection and support of whistle-blowers, and ensure that those who come forward to report wrongdoing are protected and rewarded, rather than punished and silenced.
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