Democratic Alliance Federal Council Chairperson Helen Zille has called for urgent action to hold alleged tender kingpins accountable for the growing number of whistleblower assassinations in South Africa.
Speaking on Friday, Zille condemned what she described as a “culture of impunity” that has taken root in the country, where individuals exposing corruption are increasingly being targeted and killed.
“It is these tender Mafia kingpins that must be linked to the assassination of whistleblowers,” Zille said. “We need deep investigation that will get to the masterminds, not the desperate criminal assassins for hire.”
It is these tender Mafia kingpins that must be linked to the assassination of whistleblowers. We need deep investigation that will get to the masterminds, not the desperate criminal assassins for hire. https://t.co/87i01Q2Jxx
— Helen Zille (@helenzille) September 12, 2025
Zille’s remarks come amid rising public concern over contract-related killings, particularly in provinces such as KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, where corruption linked to government tenders has been rife. Civil society organisations have repeatedly warned that whistleblowers are paying with their lives for speaking out, while many of the alleged masterminds behind the killings remain at large.
The DA has called on law enforcement agencies, including the Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority, to intensify investigations into tender-related crimes and to prioritise cases involving whistleblower safety.
Despite several arrests, there have been ongoing calls for authorities to uncover the masterminds who allegedly ordered such hits.
Zille’s comments have reignited debate about whether government is doing enough to dismantle what she called the “tender Mafia” – a network of politically connected individuals benefiting from inflated and fraudulent state contracts.
The DA has indicated it will table questions in Parliament demanding progress reports on whistleblower-related cases and protection mechanisms.