It’s just over two decades since accountant Wendy Addison tipped off SA’s Exchange Control authorities that something smelly was happening at Leisurenet, owner of 87 gyms and a darling of the JSE. As a result of her whistleblowing, Addison, a CA (SA), was forced to flee to the UK, accompanied by hard evidence of the massive fraud. But her dream job with high-profile entrepreneur Richard Branson ended when the Virgin chief opted to do a deal with the fraudsters and marched his recently appointed group treasurer out of the building – and literally into the begging lane. SA’s first high-profile commercial whistleblower reflects on life-changing years when her testimony and subsequent pressure eventually put the company’s joint MDs Rod Mitchell and Peter Gardiner behind bars, explaining how she applied those experiences to shape a different life. She spoke to Alec Hogg of BizNews.

Timestamps for the interview below:

• Wendy Addison on choosing to speak up – 01:05
• On how she went about reporting the fraud – 02:05
• On her life changing dramatically and deciding to leave SA to protect evidence – 06:30
• On starting a new life in the UK – 08:40
• On working with Richard Branson – 08:55
• On calling Nelson Mandela to get Branson to buy the SA club – 11:00
• On Branson supporting the fraudulent crooks – 14:40
• On the massive betrayal – 15:30
• On death threats and getting the FBI involved – 19:40
• On her life right now – 24:10
• On cultivating courage and The Heroic Imagination Project – 27:35

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