The candle lighting ceremony was facilitated by Ms. Cynthia Stimple, Executive Director of the civil society organization Whistleblower House, who opened her address by quoting Eliezer "Elie" Wiesel, a Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor who said, “to remain silent and indifferent is the greatest sin of all”. She asked the audience to remember not only whistleblowers who had lost their lives, but those who remain in public institutions, who were brave enough to stand up against what was wrong despite threats and victimization. She read out a list of names of whistle-blowers who were assassinated or took their own lives as a result of exposing corruption. She also highlighted the plight of whistleblowers who are now living in hiding in South Africa and in other countries.
Ms Ms. Cynthia Stimple - Executive Director: Whistleblower House
Ms. Stimple highlighted the ongoing manifestation of state capture, from national to local levels and the fear that whistleblowers at all levels experience. She appealed to the President and the Government to strengthen efforts against corruption and state capture. She also called on members of Parliament to effectively address the findings of the State Capture Commission report and on prosecuting authorities to improve efforts to successfully prosecute these cases.
Ms. Stimple, herself a whistleblower who exposed corruption and maladministration at a state-owned entity during her tenure as Group Treasurer of that entity, spoke of the impact of corruption on the country’s economy. She further drew attention to the growing scourge of organized crime activities and the impact of these acts on the provision of basic services to ordinary citizens.
Ms. Stimple concluded her address by saying “…As civil society and as whistleblowers, we remain committed to fighting corruption and state capture. I hope, that with the light of this candle, our Government will find the political will and courage to do what is truly required to turn the tide against corruption and state capture”.
Concern has been raised by numerous non-profit organizations, members of parliament, civil society, and business associations, that no dedicated full-spectrum resource exists to support whistleblowers in South Africa. As such, whistleblowers often struggle to access legal counsel, financial help, psychological support, assistance with the preparation of affidavits to relevant authorities, and evaluating the real risks they may face. The South African Government has committed itself to addressing these concerns with a number of actions currently underway. The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development has recommended significant reforms to the Protected Disclosures Act and Witness Protection Act in accordance with the State Capture Commission’s recommendations on enhancing whistleblower protection. At the UNODC supported National Dialogue on corruption held in November 2023, President Cyril Ramaphosa undertook to implement the recommendations of the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council on the protection of whistleblowers.
The International Anti-Corruption Day address by Mr. Nelson Muffuh, United Nations Resident Coordinator (RC), saluted whistleblowers in South Africa. He dubbed them “courageous individuals who have made personal sacrifices” and went on to express, on behalf of the United Nations family in South Africa, heartfelt sympathy to the heroes and heroines who have paid the ultimate price in their selfless acts of speaking up against corruption. He went on to say, “whistle-blowers deserve recognition and appreciation – not rejection or reprisal”. The RC concluded on the matter by stating that the United Nations acknowledges that a well-designed whistleblowing system will encourage officials across all sectors and the general public to expose corrupt practices and that the key to such a system is the effective protection measures embedded not only in legislation but also in the institutional practices.
Mr. Nelson Muffuh, United Nations Resident Coordinator
UNODC works with states across the region to draft, amend and implement whistleblowing legislation. In South Africa, where legislation is well developed and continues to undergo revision and amendment, UNODC works at all levels of government and across sectors to support the development of policies and reporting channels.
