WHISTLEBLOWERS, WE HAVE YOUR BACK
YOU South Africa|7 April 2022
Speaking out on corruption can have life-threatening consequences but now a new organisation is offering to support and protect the brave people who come forward
LESEGO SEOKWANG
WHISTLEBLOWERS, WE HAVE YOUR BACK
IF YOU blow the whistle on state capture, you live in fear.

These are the words of Athol Williams, a former partner at management consultancy firm Bain & Co. He blew the whistle on the company in 2019, testifying before the Zondo Commission about how it had plundered the coffers of the SA Revenue Service (Sars) during the state capture years.

Athol fled South Africa after he received death threats for opening the can of worms and is now living in hiding. Yet although his life has been turned upside down, he is one of the lucky ones.

Babita Deokaran (53), the acting CFO for the Gauteng health department, was shot dead in broad daylight outside her Johannesburg home last year. She’d been a key witness in the investigation into the overpriced procurement of Covid-19 protection clothing, a scandal involving some R330 million.

And it’s precisely because of cases like Athol’s and Babita’s that a new organisation has been launched.

Whistleblower House (WBH) is a non-profit organisation that aims to provide assistance to people who want to expose corruption.

“The reality in South Africa is that no dedicated resource exists to support whistleblowers,” says Ben Theron, executive director of WBH.

“They’re often adrift in accessing legal counsel, financial help, psychological support, assistance with the preparation of testimonies and evaluating the risks they may face.”

The NPO is raising funds from donors and establishing a panel of pro bono service providers to cover all the required fields, including lawyers, GPs, psychologists, psychiatrists and dentists. Access to job opportunities will also be provided by WBH.

Esta historia es de la edición 7 April 2022 de YOU South Africa.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición 7 April 2022 de YOU South Africa.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE YOU SOUTH AFRICAVer todo
BALLON IN THE BAG
YOU South Africa

BALLON IN THE BAG

Manchester City midfielder Rodrigo Hernandez Cascante says his Ballon d'Or win is a victory for Spanish football

time-read
4 minutos  |
14 November 2024
IT WAS ALL A LIE
YOU South Africa

IT WAS ALL A LIE

A new doccie exposes the Grey's Anatomy writer who fabricated her life story

time-read
5 minutos  |
14 November 2024
'I WILL NEVER GIVE UP'
YOU South Africa

'I WILL NEVER GIVE UP'

After her husband, anticorruption activist Alexei Navalny, was poisoned and murdered by the Kremlin, she became the public face of Russia's opposition. In this candid interview Yulia Navalnaya opens up about life on the run, her perilous family life and why she's continuing her husband's fight to save their country

time-read
10+ minutos  |
14 November 2024
AGREE TO DISAGREE
YOU South Africa

AGREE TO DISAGREE

Trevor Noah on how his childhood squabbles with his mother inspired his delightful new book

time-read
4 minutos  |
14 November 2024
PAUSE THE CLOCK
YOU South Africa

PAUSE THE CLOCK

Researchers have discovered that the ageing process spikes at 44 and 60. Here's what you can do to slow it down

time-read
5 minutos  |
14 November 2024
MPOOMY ON TOP
YOU South Africa

MPOOMY ON TOP

We chat to SA's most popular female podcaster about love, loss and her booming success

time-read
4 minutos  |
14 November 2024
MY BROTHER IS NOT TO BLAME
YOU South Africa

MY BROTHER IS NOT TO BLAME

Tinus Drotské says his sibling, ex Bok Nǎka, is the victim in the brawl with a neighbour that landed up in court

time-read
4 minutos  |
14 November 2024
MATT THE RECLUSE
YOU South Africa

MATT THE RECLUSE

A year after his friend's tragic death, the actor continues to shun the spotlight

time-read
4 minutos  |
14 November 2024
A LEAP OF FAITH
YOU South Africa

A LEAP OF FAITH

After her husband tried to kill her by tampering with her parachute she thought she'd never trust a man again-but now she's found love

time-read
5 minutos  |
14 November 2024
THEY'RE MY KIDS!
YOU South Africa

THEY'RE MY KIDS!

This West Coast woman treats her monkeys as iftheyre humans and animal activists are not happy about it

time-read
4 minutos  |
14 November 2024