Telecommunications group Telkom has unveiled a new platform for the public to report any acts or suspected acts of fraud, corruption and irregular conduct within the organisation to ensure that it remains corruption- and fraud-free.

As part of the group’s ethics and corporate governance mechanisms and in line with its zero-tolerance policy on fraud, corruption and irregular conduct, the new multichannel whistleblowing platform will apply to all Telkom subsidiaries and business units, including Telkom Consumer, BCX, Openserve, Telkom SMB and YEP.

“Addressing fraud, corruption and irregular conduct is an end-to-end process where we expect everyone, be it Telkom Group employees, members of the public or Telkom Group’s suppliers and customers to report all incidents. Reported acts will be investigated regardless of any individual’s position within the organisation,” said Telkom Group safety, security and forensics executive Dr Pat Mazibuko.

Telkom recently designated executive committee member and company secretary Ayanda Ceba as group ethics officer, responsible for promoting and embedding ethical conduct within the organisation.

South Africa was recently ranked 69 out of 180 countries in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index for 2020, further highlighting the severity of fraud and corruption in the country, the group said in a statement.

“That is why Telkom Group has partnered with safe line service provider Advance Call to launch the #Vulumlomo Speak Up anti-fraud and corruption campaign to encourage the public to come forward and anonymously report any acts or suspected acts of fraud, corruption and irregular conduct.”

“This whistleblowing platform is also aimed at assisting law enforcement bodies that have oversight over corruption prosecutions,” Mazibuko said.

From May 1, the public can report actual or suspected incidents on the toll-free Telkom hotline, send a WhatsApp message, SMS or email, through the behonest website or send a postal message. The report will be sent to Telkom Group Forensics for investigation.

Whistleblowers may remain anonymous should they choose to.