At the heart of the critical issues affecting both South African society and the international community is the burning issue of fraud and corruption. These scourges represent major challenges, jeopardizing the integrity and transparency of institutions, both in the public and private sectors. Faced with such a problem, the Institute of Internal Auditors of South Africa (IIA SA) is taking the initiative to tackle this issue head on, under the leadership of its Director General, Arlene-Lynn Volmink.
One of the key weapons in the fight against fraud and corruption is undoubtedly whistleblowing. It is a key tool aimed at promoting integrity and accountability, while deterring wrongdoing. Encouraging individuals to report cases of fraud and corruption is crucial to ensuring transparency, compliance with standards and combating the roots of corruption. It is imperative that whistleblowers are protected from retaliation, intimidation or harm.
With this in mind, the dialogue initiated by the collaboration between the Southern African Institute of Government Auditors (SAIGA), the Institute of Commercial Forensic Practitioners (ICFP) and IIA SA is of paramount importance. This unprecedented partnership will culminate in a free dialogue session on Friday 22 November 2024, themed ‘Protecting Whistleblowers’. The meeting aims to establish a robust framework for public and private sector organisations to ensure the safety and well-being of whistleblowers.
Russel Morena, CEO of SAIGA, underlines the importance of this collaboration, saying: “Fighting fraud and corruption requires a shared commitment, where knowledge and skills sharing is essential. By joining forces, we can address these complex challenges and strengthen our networks to tackle them effectively.”
Chris de Beer, CEO of ICFP, also emphasizes the importance of this synergy, stating that “the fight against financial crimes requires active collaboration between different organizations. Thanks to our respective expertise, we are able to detect, investigate and prevent fraud and corruption across various sectors, thus creating a climate of accountability and transparency”.
Arlene-Lynn Volmink, for her part, underlines the pride of IIA SA in partnering with organizations that share common values. She states that “through these collaborations, we can contribute significantly to the fight against fraud and corruption, while promoting transparency, integrity and accountability within our different sectors”..
Ultimately, the pooling of expertise between SAIGA, ICFP and IIA SA offers a comprehensive and effective approach to combating fraud and corruption. Together, these organisations are committed to building a more ethical and transparent future for South African society, in line with the priorities of the new Government of National Unity.