In addition corruption eats at the very fabric of our society. It costs us international investment, diminishes our trust in public institutions and fosters a culture of impunity. According to a 2010 report by international audit firm BDO, South Africa “boasts the world’s second highest incidence of corporate fraud and corruption.” Transparency International ranks our country 55th of 180 in their
2009 Corruption Perceptions Index. Global Financial Integrity, a Washington based research group, calculates that R185billion of illegal money left South Africa since 1994. This excludes money lost to illegal activities such as smuggling and money laundering, making the real figure much higher. Imagine how many jobs could have been created, schools and hospitals built, roads and bridges constructed with this money. It is time to stem the tide. Fighting corruption starts with individuals. Small acts of courage can have a massive impact. Enron. The Arms Deal. The death of Steve Biko. Wikileaks. These scandals, and many others, were brought to light by brave individuals who were willing to take a stand. For this reason the Open Democracy Advice Centre (ODAC) is launching a Whistleblowing Week Campaign from 17-23 October 2011. ODAC has a long track record in giving legal advice to whistle-blowers and in some cases, fighting cases on their behalf. The campaign will encourage prospective whistleblowers to blow the whistle safely, guided by expert help and an understanding of the Whistleblowing legislation.
