THE FUSE

Rewards for whistleblowers is a controversial topic. The term “whistleblower” evokes imagery of an authoritative call to attention. However, in the past, South Africa’s reaction to protecting whistleblowers has often been muted. The silence after the whistle blows, in the experience of the whistleblower is an isolated quiet, when the individual who dares to speak out can be rejected by their colleagues, profession and community. Breaking the silence requires not just legal protections, but a cultural shift in how we treat those who come forward to expose malicious actors.