Informed Choice: Public Perceptions of Whistleblowing and Corruption Reporting in South Africa

Whistleblowing plays a critical role in fostering accountability and transparency in both public and private institutions. Using data from the 2022 South African Social Attitudes Survey (SASAS, n=3105) and a 2023 Online Survey (n=5167) on attitudes towards the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture (Zondo Commission), this paper explores South Africans’ views on whistleblowers, the importance of reporting corruption, and the perceived protection of whistleblowers. A sizeable majority of respondents (83%) supported the view that corruption should always be reported, while over half (59%) believed whistleblowers require significant protection. However, only a small proportion of respondents believed that whistleblowers are adequately protected from retaliation. Multinomial regression analysis highlights the predictors of public attitudes toward whistleblowing, with significant factors including knowledge of state capture, the perceived effectiveness of anti-corruption prosecutions, and perceived moral alignment with the Zondo Commission. Despite widespread recognition of the importance of whistleblower protection, concerns persist about the sufficiency of existing safeguards. This paper argues for stronger mechanisms to protect whistleblowers, as supported by 82% of respondents in the 2023 survey. Recommendations for policy reform are discussed in light of the findings of the Zondo Commission on the need for greater whistleblower protections in South Africa.