THE man organising South Africa’s Whistleblower Awards has been accused of betraying the very people he claims to honour.
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It is alleged that he leaked a private communication that exposed a woman to vicious online attacks.
Members of the whistleblower community have written a scathing letter to retired Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, who is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the awards ceremony in Melrose Arch, Joburg on 26 October.
They warned Madlanga that Tebogo Khaas, founder and chairman of Public Interest SA, disclosed a private communication involving Nicole Fritz. The communication was shared with another person and then published on Facebook after which Fritz became the target of deeply hostile and abusive attacks on social media.
The whistleblower community said confidentiality and protection from retaliation are central to their safety — not peripheral issues.
“Many whistleblowers have suffered devastating professional, financial, psychological and in some cases, physical consequences because information concerning them was disclosed or because safeguards that should have protected them failed,” reads the letter.
The community wrote to Khaas setting out their concerns and gave him until close of business on Friday, 21 August to respond. He did not acknowledge receipt and reportedly said he would not be “bullied”.
“Requesting accountability for conduct that potentially compromises the confidentiality and safety...
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