Drivers of Change

ODAC conducts training on the Protected Disclosures Act in Mmabatho and Limpopo for Nehawu

Group discussion amongst delegates

Presentation to Nehawu Limpopo

Nehawu giving a red card to corruption

Emma Levy Addresses IMATU Congress 

27 October 2010 

Review from IMATUmail December 2010

Delegates were treated to another top keynote speaker at congress when Ms. Emma Levy, the Advocacy Co-ordinator of the Open Democracy Advice Centre addressed Congress on ?Trade Union Advocacy around the Pro-tected Disclosures Act as an anti-corruption strategy?.

In her address Emma addressed delegates on the status of whistle blowing in South Africa. She directed delegates’ attention to the different types of wrongdoing that constitute a disclosure under the Act. She referred to the types of disclosures that are protected and the methods of making protected disclosures.

In her address she referred to the status of disclosures to legal advisors, Cabinet or Executive Councils, regulatory bodies and the media. The reasonableness of disclosures, status of confidentiality clauses, protection given by the Act and remedies that are available to whistleblowers were also highlighted during her address.

Emma emphasised the importance of IMATU’s members to be involved in the monitoring of the workplace for any type of wrongdoing that required whistle blowing. ?What happens in the workplace happens in the community. You can not close your eyes to the signs of wrongdoing in the community where you live, because the wrongdoer will take his plans to the workplace?, she said.

She called on IMATU to be vigilant in the regarding of whistle blowing and to assist its members un-conditionally in instances which warrant whistle blowing.

Click here to download IMATU presentation by Emma Levy

Whistleblowing conference – Management and Implementation of the Protected Disclosures Act in the Public Sector

Background

The Whistleblowers Implementers’ Forum was held at the Aloe Ridge Game Reserve near Zwartkops, Gauteng on 17-18 November 2010. It was jointly convened by the Open Democracy Advice Centre (ODAC) and the Public Service Commission (PSC).

Purpose of the Whistleblowers Implementers’ Forum

The purpose of the Forum was to bring together 50-60 public sector officials from the national, provincial and local spheres of government as well as members of various public sector entities and Chapter 9 Institutions. These participants engaged with selected local and international speakers and each other around a range of topics about the successes and challenges of protected disclosures. While the focus was on protected disclosures in South Africa, a number of international examples and lessons were also traversed in order to provide some context for reflecting on the experiences of the South African Public Service.  

Click here to Download the Whistleblowers Implementers Forum Report