My name is Patricia Mashale, I am a whistleblower from the South African Police Service. I have been in hiding since February 2022. Since I blew the whistle on huge corruption in SAPS, implicating senior management, my life became threatened. I have also been dismissed from my job and I have no way of sustain myself financially anymore. 

A threat assessment report confirmed that my life is at risk from the police, and the experienced member who compiled the report was instructed by his commander to change it – which he refused to do. This was reported to the Parliamentary Police Portfolio Committee, who should have called for an investigation by IPID, but did not. The President, the Minister of Police, the Portfolio Committee of Police as well as the National Commissioner of Police are all aware of my situation but they haven't taken any meaningful steps to secure my safety and livelihood. 

On Thursday night, 23 June, shots were fired at my brother, Shawn Meyers, in what was obviously an attempt to kill him. Had he not managed to quickly hide himself in someone’s yard, where those attacking him, in a white bakkie, continued to fire at him he could have died.  Free State SAPS management have put a great deal of pressure on him to reveal my whereabouts, which he has refused to disclose, and he has made it publicly known that they are desperate to track me down.   

I have also opened a case against the Free State Provincial Commissioner for failing to perform her duties in terms of the South African Police Service Act 68 of 1995, as well as failure to act on acts of wrongdoing (corruption) of her senior management as reported by me. She has a duty to act, failure to do so amounts to criminal conduct. This docket have never been investigated and is currently archived.

What is even more appalling is that President Cyril Ramaphosa is not practicing what he has been preaching around the protection of whistleblowers. Regardless of the fact that he is well aware of my situation, I am not receiving any support as a certified whistleblower, instead I am being supported by private NGO'S, locally and internationally. 

The IPID whom I have reported all of the cases I brought forward to, as per procedure, has also failed to act. They are yet to report back to me on the progress of these cases. Even though I require a report from IPID in order to provide feedback to the International Human Rights Defenders who are aware of, and very concerned about, my safety. This report from IPID will assist me in holding the different sectors of government involved accountable for their lack of action. 

If enough of us sign and share this petition we can put enough pressure on the government to keep me safe and to assist me in my efforts to expose corruption in the SAPS. Please sign this petition to help me put pressure on IPID to issue a report on: 

(a) cases I have reported to IPID for investigation and 

(b) what action has been taken by IPID following the meeting held on 25 April together with the Deputy Minister of Police, Deputy National Commissioner of Police, and NADEL lawyers, regarding investigations into criminal matters cases opened by dismissed members.  

#ProtectPatriciaMashale