MHM Magazine

Issue 4 | 2023 | MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS | 21 MHM PEOPLE WHO RISK SPEAKING OUT Many of us are familiar with the names of whistle blowers like Babita Deokaran, who was gunned down in her driveway in 2021 after she’d uncovered massive fraud at Tembisa Hospital. Cynthia Stimpel is another well-known person who blew the whistle at South African Airways. She is one of the founders of The Whistleblower House (TWH) which provides shelter, protection, and support to whistleblowers (www. whistleblowerhouse.org) .  Then there are the people we don’t hear about, who speak out about wrongdoing whether it’s at local, municipal, regional, provincial, or national level. Many of these people weren't looking for evidence of corruption, they stumbled upon it while just doing their job, or someone drew their attention to it. Sometimes, they find it is their superiors who are the perpetrators of corruption and other criminal acts, making it difficult to know who to turn to for help.  Research commissioned by the Transparency, Integrity, and Accountability Programme (TIP) and conducted by the Foundation for Human Rights focussed on the whistleblower journey to ascertain trends. Most whistleblowers have been subjected to various forms of retaliation by their employers such as demotions, suspensions, dismissals etc., all of which have had devastating effects on their livelihoods and lives. Psychosocial support was found to be key in enhancing whistleblower support. The recently formed Whistleblower Support Platform for Reform (WSPR) seeks to increase the number of healthcare professionals dealing with whistleblowers.  WHISTLEBLOWER SUPPORT PLATFORM FOR REFORM In 2022, various organisations met to identify ways of supporting and empowering whistleblowers. In 2023, these meetings led to the establishment of WSPR. It consists of civil society organisations working collectively with statutory bodies within government, business, and the media. WSPR aims to contribute to building a coordinated and comprehensive whistleblower support system that will ultimately lead to increased accountability, transparency, and the fight against corruption. WSPR also seeks to equip whistleblowers with the knowledge necessary both before and after they blow the whistle so they can make informed decisions and mitigate negative consequences during the whistleblowing journey. It’s also working on initiatives to inform and educate the public about whistleblowing, changes to current whistleblower legislation, and the support that WSPR offers whistleblowers.   Whistleblower researcher Mthabisi Moyo of the Southern African Institute for Responsive and Accountable Governance (SAIRAG) said: “Corruption, being abuse of entrusted power for private gain, thrives under cover of darkness with dire consequences which violate human rights within workspaces and society in general. Whistleblowing is crucial in shedding light where malfeasance Lauren Gower Clinical Psychologist Johannesburg, Gauteng lauren.gower@live.co.za WORKING WITH WHISTLEBLOWERS