03 Apr 2018

There are no contradictions between the Corruption and Economic Crime Act (CECA) and the Whistleblowing Act on the requirement of whistleblowers to state or disclose their identity and particulars.

Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Thato Kwerepe said the CECA was silent on disclosures and that any person making a report could remain anonymous or voluntary disclose their identity.

As for the Whistleblowing Act, Mr Kwerepe said the whistleblower who needed protection in accordance with the act should provide their identity and particulars for purposes of protection since an anonymous whistleblower could not be protected.

He said the Whistleblowing Act provided that a disclosure of impropriety should contain full names, address and occupation of the whistleblower.

Member of Parliament for Selebi Phikwe West, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse had asked the assistant minister to confirm the contradiction between the Corruption and Economic Crime Act and Whistleblowing Act on the requirement of whistleblowers to state and disclose their identity and particulars.

Mr Keorapetse also wanted to know which law required voluntary disclosures/no disclosure, and one which compelled disclosure and to furthermore explain the contradiction and what government was doing about it.

Still in Parliament, it has been revealed that since April 2014, the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) has handled 47 cases involving private companies and their executives, and that out of the number 28 were questioned.

Mr Kwerepe said six companies and their executives were searched and that four cases were still pending before the magistrate courts.

Furthermore, he explained that nine cases were closed without questioning and searching the companies and their executives due to lack of evidence to proceed with such cases.

He noted that since April 2014, the number of private companies and their executives charged were only four and were pending in court, hence no convictions and acquittals had been recorded.

Mr Kwerepe said there were no cases before the High Court or Court of Appeal and that no charges had been withdrawn.

MP Keorapetse had wanted the assistant minister to state in respect of the Corruption and Economic Crime, the number of private companies and their executives since April 2014 questioned by the DCEC, raided and searched and investigated for corruption and economic crime.

He also wanted to know those who had been charged, prosecuted and convicted or acquitted by the Magistrate, High Court or Court of Appeal or had their charges withdrawn. ENDS