Back from left: Adv Madimetja Tisana (Pretoria Convenor), Dr Joseph Diescho (Director: International Relations), Mr Solly Matheba (Pretoria Chapter committee member), Mr David Farirai (Director: Unisa Foundation & Alumni Relations), front from left: Ms Rabia Cassim (Pretoria Chapter committee member), Adv Thuli Madonsela (Public Protector) & Ms Amanda Tlale (Manager: Alumni Relations)
All citizens have a duty and a responsibility to expose corruption and ensure the attainment of a society that values ethical behaviour. This was the overriding message during a conversation held between the Public Protector of the Republic of South Africa, Advocate Thuli Madonsela, and the Pretoria Alumni Chapter of Unisa, held on Unisa’s Muckleneuk Campus on Tuesday 16 October 2012.
Delivering the keynote address at this auspicious event under the theme “What role should the citizenry play in exposing corruption and maladministration, particularly in view of intimidation and victimisation of whistle blowers?”, Advocate Madonsela emphasised the centrality and pertinence of honesty and ethical behaviour, rather than only the enforcement of corruption-busting laws, in the national drive to bring about a society free of corruption and maladministration.
She was unequivocal about the seriousness with which the citizenry should unapologetically demand accountability from those they have put in power, be it in the public or private sector, but equally practise active citizenry by taking an interest in how exactly government functions and how public funds should be used to finance development and poverty alleviation programmes.
“There is a greater need of understanding of the processes that unfold behind the scenes with regard to the running of a government. Our roles should not be limited to just casting our ballots once every five years,” she said.
Advocate Madonsela lamented as well the “unfriendly” environment in which her office and other similar corruption-busting organisations have to function, given the limited resources at their disposal, but particularly with regard to limitations imposed by the laws on corruption.
One Act that her office is particularly concerned about is the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act 12 of 2004, whose definition of corruption, she says, often serves as an impediment in the discharge of their duties.
Hence, in her office, much preference is given to the more simplistic but powerful definition of corruption as outlined by Transparency International, which defines it as “the abuse of entrusted power for private gain.”
She emphasised that it is the existence of such challenges that make it even more pertinent for the citizenry to play an active role in exposing corruption and maladministration.
“It should not be left to a few institutions such as the Public Protector or the Auditor General to shine the spotlight on wrongdoing. We all have a role to play and if we all pull our weight, our democracy will be positively impacted,” she added.
Advocate Madonsela’s address was echoing earlier sentiments expressed by Unisa’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Mandla Makhanya, in his welcoming address.
Makhanya cautioned the audience about the rise in corruption, how it has gained a stronghold and is manifesting itself in many aspects of people’s lives, especially in emerging markets. He called for vigilance and the need for society to blow the whistle on corruption, while acknowledging the challenges faced by whistle-blowers in our society.
“Ignoring or being apathetic and complacent about corruption allows it to flourish unchecked and to destroy unchecked, and we have seen the harrowing results of that all too often, especially in Africa,” he cautioned.
Both Advocate Madonsela and Prof Makhanya addressed the question of the safety and protection of whistle-blowers on the frontier of corruption-busting in South Africa.
While Prof Makhanya touched on the risk associated with whistle-blowing, including name-calling, victimisation and possible loss of life, the Public Protector delved into the legalities around whistle-blowing and the protection of whistle-blowers.
In this regard, she mentioned the Protected Disclosures Act of 2000 as the key piece of legislation that seeks to protect whistle-blowers from “vindictive individuals in authority, who might use their power to take those who report them to task.”
This Act is there to cushion whistle-blowers from suffering any occupational detriment. Its downside, she said, was that it only protects whistle-blowers within the public sector.
“Perhaps this is something that our lawmakers in Parliament need to look into because good governance is a necessity in all sectors of society. It is not just a state affair, we need it in business and in civil society too,” she said.
Prof Makhanya had earlier challenged alumni to make a choice between being responsible citizens who play an active role in the fight against corruption, or choosing to look the other way as corruption erodes the moral fabric of our society.
He advised all and sundry to ponder on the wise words of Albert Einstein, who said: “The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.”
 Advocate Thuli Madonsela responding to questions from the audience |
 Back from left: Adv Madimetja Tisana (Pretoria Chapter Convenor), Prof Divya Singh (Vice-Principal: Advisory & Assurance Services), Dr Joe Diescho (Director: International Relations & Partnerships); front from left: Prof Mandla Makhanya (Principal & Vice-Chancellor) & Adv Thuli Madonsela (Public Protector) |
*Written by Martin Ramotshela, Senior Media Officer, Unisa
If we can all think futuristic we can try to act in a way that will enable this world to be a better place.The question is who really cares.
It is unfortunate that we need Chapter 9 Bodies, like the PP and SAHRC to protect the citizenry; not against ‘fundamentalists’ (of any kind), but against the post-Apartheid government and state. An ordinary worker cannot take on a powerful employer (private or public) and endanger his family’s likelihood, because he, as whistle-blower will not be protected, but crucified, – there are so many examples in South Africa. The same applies to an ordinary citizen, who does not have the money to take matters to the courts. If it is taken to the PP, his complaint is not acknowledged and no feedback given, even after two years. It seems the PP prioritises the complaints lodged by political parties and high-profile South Africans. The irony of the matter is that the ‘haves’ commit corruption, which take not thousands of rands out of the mouths of the ‘haves-not’, but billions of rands! The citizenry have morals, but the leadership do not know what ‘ethics’ entail.