JOHANNESBURG - Minister of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, said the window for public comments on the Protected Disclosure Act will not be extended.
This comes as there have been calls by organisations for the window to be extended for them to submit their comments.
To date, the department has received a significant number of comments, which will now be processed for the draft bill for submission to Parliament.
The proposed legislation represents government’s most aggressive attempt yet to shield those who expose wrongdoing.
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Kubayi said it is important to expeditiously conclude this framework for the protection of the lives and livelihoods of individuals who come forward with information to expose criminal activities.
“Failure to expeditiously conclude this framework for the protection of whistleblowers will have grave consequences for the individuals who put their lives in danger to expose wrongdoing and corruption," she said.
She added that the extension would not be in the interest of the whistleblowers
"I must emphasise that organisations and individuals will still have an opportunity to make comments on the Bill when Parliament opens for public participation,” Kubayi said.