Page 42 - MiNDSPACE Issue 2 2022 - Old Mutual Corporate

whistleblowers workSPACE
Our heroic
whistleblowers need
heroic corporate
leaders
Even superheroes need help, and whistleblowers are no exception.
S By Mandy Wiener
outh Africa is currently that you support and protect them will reinforce your own experiencing a golden age of commitment to ethical behaviour and encourage more staff to whistleblowing as we have seen from speak up.’
the courageous testimony of many at Some acts of retaliation are obvious, such as harassment or the Zondo Commission. These brave intimidation but others are more subtle in nature. For example, individuals have been the bulwark giving someone the cold shoulder or intentionally failing to
of our democracy, holding the line in provide them with the resources needed to do their job, are also the face of blatant looting. forms of retaliation, explains Liezl
But those raising the alarm Groenewald, Co-founding Director of about fraud and wrongdoing at The Whistleblower House and Senior corporate level and in medium-sized enterprises should also Manager for Organisational Ethics at
be encouraged. This means companies need to have proper The Ethics Institute.
procedures, processes and guidelines for whistleblowers. ‘An ethical organisational culture is
based on a leadership commitment WHAT, THEN, IS THE BEST WAY TO MANAGE A to ethical behaviour and decisions all WHISTLEBLOWER IN YOUR ORGANISATION? the way through to senior and middle
‘You have whistleblowing because there has been a failure management and non-managerial
of good performance management, a failure of good internal controls, a failure of good risk management, a failure of good, transparent communication, and so the whistleblower is at the end of a series of failures,’ said one anonymous participant
employees,’ says Groenewald. ‘It spans mature levels of accountability, fair treatment of those who report wrongdoing, ethics awareness
and training, and a safe space for employees to speak up.’
in South African Whistleblowers: Tribulations and Triumphs, a 2021 Gordon Institute of Business whitepaper.
‘Organisations must support their whistleblowers right from the time a report has been received throughout the processes that follow. Practical support involves encouraging them, reassuring them of the value of reporting wrongdoing and supporting their wellbeing. The latter could entail access to legal advice, security or
Mandy Wiener is
a senior crime and investigative reporter, and the host of the Midday Report on 702 and CapeTalk 567. Her most recent book is The Whistleblowers (Pan Macmillan
South Africa).
Creating a safe space for whistleblowers therefore starts with the culture in your organisation and rewarding and celebrating those who push back against fraud and corruption rather than treating them as impimpis or snitches.
Athol Williams, the Bain whistleblower who has been commended by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo in the State Capture report, says, ‘Ensure that they face no retaliation and act publicly against anyone who acts negatively towards them. Celebrate the whistleblower for their brave act. Communicating
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