Athol Williams became one of South Africa's best-known state-capture whistleblowers after providing the State Capture Commission with a roughly 700-page affidavit.
South Africa is moving to strengthen protection for whistleblowers as OUTA launches a campaign documenting the human cost when that protection fails.
At the same time, one of the country's most prominent state capture whistleblowers is again at the centre of a fight over the consequences of speaking out.
Athol Williams became one of South Africa's best-known state-capture whistleblowers after providing the State Capture Commission of Inquiry with a roughly 700-page affidavit backed by nearly 500 documents, testifying about Bain & Company's role at the South African Revenue Service.
The Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa, which provided Williams with legal support, says he lost friends, his career and income after coming forward, while his disclosures took a toll on his health and family. He ultimately left South Africa after testifying because he feared for his safety.
