Coming to the Aid of Whistleblowers: A Typology of Support and Survival Strategies

Whistleblowers, assisted by the media and civil society organizations, played a prominent role in exposing corruption in state organs in South Africa. The testimonies of these whistleblowers helped establish that the corruption transpiring in South Africa entailed the complete ensnarement of the country’s political system. As the allegations of whistleblowers abounded, it became evident that it was, in fact, state capture that ensnared the country. In contrast to corruption, where individuals opportunistically abuse their positions of power for personal gain, state capture entails repeated and well-organized collusion practices where state officials extract personal benefits by giving control of state resources to agents external to the state. While the whistleblowers’ ground-breaking exposures shone a light on state capture, inadequate legislative provisions left them unprotected. Civil society, consisting of non-governmental organizations and independent media outlets, interceded to aid the whistleblowers. Therefore, this chapter examines how civil society organizations supported South African whistleblowers in coping with the repercussions of their disclosures. The findings are based on semi-structured interviews conducted with whistleblowers and members of civil society organizations, as well as an analysis of relevant documents. Along with a typology indicating the support whistleblowers require before, during, and after blowing the whistle, this chapter provides recommendations for the practical application of adequate whistleblower support.