South African Whistleblowing Week finally launched

 A three-metre high whistle launched National Whistleblowing Week, an initiative of the Open Democracy Advice Centre (ODAC). The week was launched today (17 October 2011) in Church Square, Cape Town at 12 noon.

Members of the public will add their voice to the campaign by taking a whistle from the public art installation, which was designed by street artist Mak1One. Whistleblowing Week will be concluded with a more serious roundtable discussion on 20 October 2011 at Wits University in Johannesburg.

Focusing on the Secrecy Bill and its impact on whistleblowing, the panel for this event, will include the Public Protector, Advocate Thuli Madonsela, former high profile whistleblower Mike Tshishonga and Executive Director of ODAC Alison Tilley.

The main aim of the week is to create a platform to educate South Africans on how to blow the whistle safely through the correct legislative procedures. “Corruption and fraud costs South Africans in excess of R1 billion each year. It is eating at the very fabric of our society,” says Tilley.

“With uncertainty over the proposed secrecy bill and the impact this will have on access to information, the current legislation protecting whistleblowers is under an enormous threat,” says Tilley. “National Whistleblowing Week could not have come at a better time in South Africa.”

END