A senior government official has made chilling allegations about what he describes as questionable spending within South Africa's Department of Transport—and now, he says, he fears for his life.
Research Director Esethu Hasane is blowing the whistle on communications contracts allegedly worth around R15 million, including livestreaming services that he claims cost the department hundreds of thousands of rand, despite attracting very few viewers. Hasane alleges that some procurement processes may have been structured in ways designed to avoid scrutiny, and says his attempts
to raise objections internally have resulted in threats and hostility. Now, his warning is deeply concerning: “They can kill me.” But the Department of Transport has rejected allegations that he was
victimised and says an independent investigation into the financial irregularity allegations is already underway. So tonight we ask: What protection do whistleblowers really have when exposing alleged corruption—and why do so many say speaking out comes with a personal cost?

A senior government official has made chilling allegations about&nbsp;what he describes as questionable spending within South Africa's&nbsp;Department of Transport&mdash;and now, he says, he fears for his life. Research Director Esethu Hasane is blowing the whistle on&nbsp;communications contracts allegedly worth around R15 million,&nbsp;including livestreaming services that he claims cost the department&nbsp;hundreds of thousands of rand, despite attracting very few viewers.&nbsp;Hasane alleges that some procurement processes may have been&nbsp;structured in ways designed to avoid scrutiny, and says his attempts to raise objections internally have resulted in threats and hostility.&nbsp;Now, his warning is deeply concerning: &ldquo;They can kill me.&rdquo; But the&nbsp;Department of Transport has rejected allegations that he was victimised and says an independent investigation into the financial&nbsp;irregularity allegations is already underway.&nbsp;So tonight we ask: What protection do whistleblowers really&nbsp;have when exposing alleged corruption&mdash;and why do so many&nbsp;say speaking out comes with a personal cost?

METRO FM Talk with Faith Mangope