Abstract
Thestudyaimedtoinvestigatewhistle-blowers’roleincorruptionpreventioninthe
publicsectorofSouthAfrica.Itwasfoundthatcorruptpracticesremainapersistent
issuein South Africaand continuehurting theeconomy,governance,and the
country’ssocialdevelopment.Somedetrimentaleffectsofcorruptioninthecountry
include hindering quality service delivery or providing adequate services.
Subsequently,corruption hasindirectlycaused rampantsocialprotestsin local
municipalities.Corruptionwasalso found to haveprevented SouthAfricafrom
achievingsustainableeconomicdevelopmentthatwouldleadtotherealisationof
sustainabledevelopment.AllthecombatingmeasuresusedintheSouthAfrican
publicsectorhavefailedasthecountryisdeficientinwhistle-blowersandfailsto
protectthosewho getthecourageto whistle-blow.Thestudyconcluded that
whistleblowinginthepublicsectorneedstoberecognisedasahelpfulstrategyfor
rootingoutendemiccorruptionandmisconductinthecountry.Therulingregime
andpublicinstitutionssuchasUniversitiesmustunderstandtheroleofwhistleblowersinaddressingcorruption.
Theymustsetupmeasurestoprotectwhistleblowersinsteadofpilingcasesandsuspendingthem
from theireverydaywork.
Suspendingawhistle-blowerwhohasbroughtcorruptionandcorruptarraignments
tolightmeansthattheUniversitycondonescorruptionandmakesitaplacefor
corruption to thrive.The study found thatby exposing wrongdoing in an
organisation orinstitution in the public sector,whistle-blowers are fighting
corruptionandprotectingpeoplesincecorruptionviolatespeople’srights.Inso
doing,whistle-blowersplaythecriticalroleofsafeguardinglivesandleadingtothe
upholdingoftheruleoflaw.Unfortunately,thestudyfoundthatalthoughtheSouth
Africanconstitutionhasregulationsfortheprotectionofwhistle-blowersinSouth
Africa,theystillfacedeaththreats,suspensionandlossoftheirjobs.Thestudy
foundthatthoselawshavenotyetbeenputintopractice.Thestudyconcludedthat
whistle-blowersmustberecognisedasimportantactorsinpreventingcorruption
withinthepublicsectorastheyexposecorruptionandcorruptarrangements.There
isaneedtoprotecttheirlivesandjobsandensuretheirsecurityforthewaragainst
corruptioninbothpublicandprivateinstitutionstobewon.Toarriveatthefindings,
thestudyadoptedaqualitativeresearchmethodology.