‘It is up to us to be the change’
WHEN Cynthia Stimpel took a decision to blow the whistle on corruption at SAA in 2016, it was not a decision she took lightly.
The then SAA group treasurer warned National Treasury about a potential dirty deal between BNP Capital and SAA.
In an interview with POST, Stimpel said: “At work I had spoken to my peer colleagues. We all knew what was going on. I suggested that together we try to stop it, but everyone said no, they needed their jobs. Then I realised it was only me.
“I spoke to my family – my daughters, my husband and then my siblings – to tell them what was transpiring and to explain that if I were to speak up, the resultant action would be that I would leave my job, which I did. And the next question was, ‘why don’t you just resign and walk away?’
“I could have done that, but I was in a senior position and I felt I could try and stop it before the money flowed out of the organisation. I was in such a position that I had to try to stop it rather than walk away.”
Time of the Writer
State capture, corruption, a failed insurrection, and a more critical look at the state of the nation will come under the spotlight when the Time of the Writer festival brings together several novelists who have written about the subject, in their programme titled “Dinner Conversations”.
Radio journalist Michelle Constant will talk to Jonathan Ancer and Chris Whitfield about their book, Joining the Dots: An unauthorised biography of Pravin Gordhan. Constant will also chat to Athol Williams (Deep Collusion), Themba Maseko (For my country), Mosilo Mothepu (Uncaptured) and Stimpel (Hijackers on Board).
This year, a line-up of more than 100 writers has been secured for the 25th Time of the Writer festival, which will be presented online from March 14 to 21.
The CCA said this year’s theme, “Beyond Words: Memory, Imagination & Conscience”, was inspired by Nobel Peace Prize winner, Chief Albert Luthuli.
“The festival will honour his legacy and commemorate the 60th anniversary of his autobiography. It will also critically reflect and discuss whether Luthuli’s vision for a better South Africa has been served or has been betrayed.”
Stimpel will be discussing her book and will also be involved on other panels.
No regrets
It is now seven years since Stimpel effectively changed the course of history in the country. She said she had no regrets for what she did.
“More so because I took a moral and ethical stand. If I had to one day answer to my children or to my husband or even my grandchildren, they must know that I stood up for an ethical and moral view.”
Stimpel said the path taken by whistle-blowers was not an easy one.
“Once you have blown the whistle, you go through extreme retaliation and victimisation within the organisation. So, for example, I was suspended from day one.
“My organisation then sent out an email to all the staff stating that I had committed misconduct. Immediately, not a single staff member speaks to you, even though you were friends at work. So they isolate you completely.
“Then you can’t find a job, largely because of the stigma attached to whistle-blowing, so you suffer from a financial perspective. All this starts to impact and affects you mentally.
“What transpires much later is that people recognise your courage. They start saying you are a hero and they will say well done. But very few will come to your aid and say: ‘How can we help you? What do you need to be able to be okay and get back on your feet?’
“Very few companies do that. It is really hard for the majority of whistleblowers.”
Protection
Stimpel recalled her own experience after speaking out. Unknown vehicles following her home and watching her movements.
“The government will not take the responsibility of security for the whistle-blower. We have seen it. They do it maybe for government officials, but not for ordinary citizens. At the time, I couldn’t even afford private security. I was just being very vigilant and observant wherever I drove.”
The solution, she suggested, lay in collaboration.
“For me, it's a game about working and collaborating. Perhaps security companies could come on board and offer services pro bono.
“In turn, ordinary citizens can rather support these types of organisations because they are also helping whistle-blowers. For example, teach whistle-blowers skills for safety, like how to use your phone and your social media safely, how to be alert when you are driving, and offer security upgrades at reduced rates under special circumstances.
“I think this is something that we are struggling with in South Africa at the moment. It is the reason Themba Maseko’s (state capture whistle-blower) home was broken into and Johann van Loggerenberg’s (Sars whistle-blower) home was burgled, and that’s also why Babita Deokaran (Health Department whistle-blower) was killed.
“She was watched for four weeks before they killed her.
“So they knew her routine and they struck when they knew there would be the least number of people around her.”
Help
Stimpel said there were ways that ordinary citizens could help.
“Start donating to societies or NGOs who help whistle-blowers. A few don’t often have funds and there’s a need for legal costs, financial costs, psychological assistance, etc.
“Companies can be more willing to hire whistle-blowers and use the skills that they have.
“Doctors and the legal fraternity can form panels where they could offer pro bono services for whistle-blowers, for example, give legal advice and guidance.
“From a government perspective, the government needs to start ensuring that the law takes its course and that people who are charged, are not allowed to continue with impunity with no consequence for bad behaviour. There should be immediate action taken and these cases should be raised quite expeditiously to get to court.”
Awareness
Stimpel said platforms such as the media and the Time of the Writer event were important catalysts for keeping awareness in the public eye.
“I’m very grateful for these platforms that actually help me to raise my voice in the media space. After my case, everything was quiet. You struggle on your own. But once I gave evidence at the Zondo Commission, the public was aware and I started getting calls for media interviews.
“I have spoken at a few webinars and on university platforms. I think it is very important that you continue this kind of dialogue, and combine it with ethics, governance and moral attitude.
“We have a moral degradation that has happened and we see the weight of corruption in publuic and private platforms.”
She said whistle-blowing was often seen as a negative, but it took strength and courage to stand up for the truth.
“My appeal to anybody who is listening is, we need to want to become the change. We individually need to be the change you want to see in the world.”