Statutory body the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) has published South African National Standard (SANS) 37002 whistleblowing management systems — guidelines. 

This document provides the framework and guidelines for any organisation to implement a whistleblowing management system based on the principles of trust, impartiality and protection.

“Whistleblowing has the potential to prevent and eliminate corruption, fraud and illegal or wrongful acts that can save companies millions of rands.

“The act of whistleblowing can be daunting and life-threatening in some cases, and it is important that organisations are cognisant of the need to design systems that can protect the identity of whistleblowers,” says acting SABS CEO Sadhvir Bissoon.

Bissoon explains that the guidelines contained in SANS 37002 are generic and intended to be applicable to all organisations. This is regardless of type, size, nature of activity, and whether in the public, private or not-for profit sectors.

The document is adopted from standard development body the International Organization for Standardisation, and is the internationally accepted standard for organisations anywhere in the world to deal with whistleblowing.

The document includes guidelines on how to reduce and prevent detrimental treatment of whisleblowers and others involved.

This comes in addition to guidelines on the demonstration of leadership commitment to prevent and address wrongdoing, encouraging people to blow the whistle and establishing a culture of openness, transparency, integrity and accountability.  

A practical framework for receiving, assessing, addressing and concluding whistleblowing cases is also included.