Corruption Watch applauded for “bold” new media campaign

 Corruption Watch (CW) on Wednesday launched its latest public awareness campaign in Sandton, Johannesburg, to an audience comprising civil society and public service partners, funders, and the media, among others.

The Impempe Campaign is the culmination of a creative collaboration between CW and Avatar Agency Group, which hosted the event at its offices. Its focus is public awareness and community mobilisation against corruption.

Impempe makes a daring call to the public, asking a simple yet provocative question: are you an impimpi (sell-out) or an impempe (whistle) in the fight against corruption that South Africa desperately needs? The campaign also aims to de-stigmatise the act of whistle-blowing while playing tribute to those who have sacrificed their livelihoods, freedom, and at times lives by blowing the whistle.

CW executive director Lebogang Ramafoko told the audience that while whistle-blowers in South Africa do not yet have the all-encompassing protection they need from victimisation and trauma, they have carried the country on their shoulders for too long. Their courage has led to the establishment of processes such as the Madlanga commission, which is currently investigating allegations of corruption in the criminal justice system.

“This campaign is a call to action targeting all interest groups, community members, and business to join and add their voice to a national call against corruption. Together, we are stronger!” she said.

Keynote speaker and deputy national director of public prosecutions Advocate Chuma Mtengwane applauded CW’s bold stance of calling for an all-of-society stance against corruption with the campaign. She also responded to Strategy 2030, the organisation’s new strategy, which was also revealed on the evening, saying the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is supportive of the initiative.

Mtengwane said the focus of Strategy 2030 on elevating accountability in governance systems in South Africa is a message that must be appreciated by all of society. The NPA, she added, shares several priorities reflected in the strategy, including ensuring that wrongdoing results in legal consequences and advancing public confidence in accountability systems.

CW’s founding executive director David Lewis, another speaker at the event, reflected on the organisation’s original mandate of seeking transparency, and the steps taken to advance that principle. He commended the new strategy’s direction towards demanding accountability, saying it aptly demonstrates where CW needs to be to adequately respond to the current climate of limited accountability.

To further explore the question of responding to the climate in an appropriate manner, a panel discussion explored the role of civil society in the fight against corruption. It included the Auditor-General of South Africa’s head of portfolio Andries Sekgetho; veteran member of the Competition Tribunal and Wits University associate lecturer Yasmin Carrim; executive director of Amandla.mobi Koketso Moeti and head of the Gauteng Public Service Commission Gabi Nkwanyana.

Impempe: a creative collaboration

CW received enthusiastic congratulations from speakers for taking the trendy and provocative approach of the Impempe Campaign in the name of social justice. Representing Avatar in the big reveal portion of the evening, creative director Sanele Ngubane expressed his appreciation for CW’s willingness to break boundaries and explore creative ways of pushing an important message across.

Meeting this bold move halfway, he said, were a host of creative sector partners who have given to the campaign in various ways. These include popular clothing labels Tshepo Jeans and Urban Zulu – which launched its dynamic Impempe not Impimpi line at the event with a pledge of 40% to CW for every sale – Daily Maverick, the campaign’s official media partner; Makhafula Vilakazi, who is the “voice” of the campaign; Wonga Music; Markus Wormstorm; and Chocolate Tribe.

Ramafoko challenged the public to take a stand and pledge support to thecampaign by donating to help its operations, and by exposing the everyday corruption they encounter.

Watch or download the official campaign video.