This is a call to all defence professionals, past and present, who believe in protecting South Africa’s industrial defence sovereignty. Are you aware of intellectual property theft or the poaching of key employees in the defence industry?
South African engineers, scientists, and defence professionals—many still employed in local companies—are being systematically targeted and recruited by foreign actors. These individuals are lured overseas with generous offers, only to find themselves working on similar projects or systems that they helped pioneer at home, using knowledge and IP developed with the South African taxpayer’s money and private investment.
In many cases, this has been accompanied by cybercrime, hardware theft, and targeted attacks on companies and institutions. Billions of rand worth of IP, developed over decades, is now at risk, or already lost.
You could play a crucial role in stopping it, and you may be rewarded for your courage.
A discretionary reward of up to R1 million may be offered to anyone who provides actionable information to the Whistle Blowers hot line.
This includes information submitted anonymously. If your tip leads to the successful identification of perpetrators, recovery of stolen assets, or disciplinary or criminal action against those involved, you could be eligible for this reward.
How can you help?
If you have credible information about:
- The poaching of personnel with knowledge of specific defence projects by foreign companies
- The illegal use of South African-developed IP in foreign companies
- Cyber attacks or the theft of defence data or hardware
- Systematic efforts to replicate South African defence projects abroad
Contact the whistleblowers hotline in the strictest confidence.
- Toll-Free Tip-Off Line: 0800 111 938
- Email: defence@whistleblowing.co.za
- Website: https://www.whistleblowing.co.za/
Defend what makes South Africa strong.
