The South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) has called for the implementation of policies that protect municipal workers who expose corruption.

The union says government is not doing enough to support and protect whistleblowers in municipalities.

A recent report has revealed that 148 municipal officials have been murdered countrywide since 2018, many of whom were linked to exposing corruption.

SAMWU also says the deadly trend threatens service delivery and silences accountability.

General Secretary Dumisane Magagula says with enhanced security, there will be a culture of accountability.

“We believe that a national policy linked to law enforcement, a policy linked to the bargaining council as well so that it becomes enforceable, should be in place to support the whistleblowers. We are calling for the establishment of secure channels. We have been working with Corruption Watch, but within the municipalities and within the sector, there is no channel where you will be able to report any form of corruption or any suspicion thereof.”

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