Blueprint whistleblowing prize winner’s alleged killer denied bail
Johannah Phenya in Johannesburg, shortly after winning the Blueprint Africa Whistleblowing prize in 2023
The man accused of assassinating South African whistleblower Marumo Eric Phenya was denied bail after Magistrate Hleziphi Mkhasibe of Randburg Magistrate’s Court in Johannesburg ruled that releasing him would endanger the life of his wife, Blueprint whistleblowing prize winner Johannah Phenya.
News24 reports that she continued to receive threats after her husband was murdered. It took the police four years to apprehend the suspect. A police investigator’s affidavit submitted in the bail hearing revealed chilling details of how he allegedly planned and executed the hit, then deleted digital evidence afterwards.
Phenya was gunned down in June 2021 at suburban traffic light in Johannesburg minutes from their home after dropping their children off at school shortly after he and his wife reported corruption in a state contract to provide IT services to the Department of Home Affairs. His assailants fired 10 shots at his vehicle before fleeing on foot. The assassins fired on his car from both sides, expecting Johannah to be in the passenger seat as usual. But that day she had other errands to run, which saved her life.
Johannah Phenya told News24 that she is grateful the gunman is behind bars, but remains concerned that the people who ordered the hit who “are known to the authorities” have not been charged. “My hope is that all those who were involved in the conspiracy to kill my husband will be held to account and bring closure to my family and me.”
The case resumes on 29 April.
