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Bianca Goodson, former CEO of Trillian Management Consulting, at her home in Johannesburg.
- Whistleblower Bianca Goodson says she wants energy company Eskom to consider rewarding those who took risks to report fraud and corruption.
- Goodson says her efforts have not been recognized and that she has suffered from post-traumatic panic disorder, the failure of her marriage and unemployment.
- In a letter, Eskom CEO Andre De Ruyter praised Goodson’s efforts and said it contributed to the successful recovery of funds.
Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter has acknowledged whistleblower Bianca Goodson’s efforts to help the power company recover funds lost through the state capture project.
Goodson helped expose deals between global management consulting firm McKinsey and Gupta-linked advisory firm Trillian, which cost Eskom more than R 1 billion. Goodson wants De Ruyter to consider financially rewarding those who dared to speak up.
In a letter to De Ruyter, dated October 17, Goodson recounts how, as a former Trillian CEO, she risked her career and marriage to expose the employment relationship between the financial advisory firm and the US-based consultancy. ; this contributed to Eskom’s efforts to recover R1.6 billion lost on these contracts through illegal payments.
In 2018, McKinsey paid more than R 1 billion, including interest, to Eskom.
Goodson contributed evidence to former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s investigations into the state capture in September 2016, to the Parliamentary inquiry into Eskom in 2017, as well as Geoff Budlender’s inquiry into Trillian in the same year. In his letter, he said that he has suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, a divorce and that he has not been able to find a job since.
“Consider providing some of Eskom’s financial gains to whistleblowers who have lost a lot in their efforts to advance Eskom’s cause.
“For myself and for the many whistleblowers who suffer a loss similar to mine, financial support would go a long way in maintaining their dignity and ability to support loved ones,” Goodson wrote.
He referenced US legislation that recognizes and rewards whistleblowers for their efforts and suggested that this be considered similarly in South Africa. “To date, I have not received any recognition from Eskom for the many hours I invested in its successful application, much less recognition that my support for Eskom was indeed a trigger for trauma,” he wrote.
“Although I am glad that Eskom received the 1.6 billion rand, I am bankrupt, I have medical bills to pay, discouraged by the fact that no one is going to employ me and cannot afford to take care of my daughter,” she said. .
Goodson also recommended that De Ruyter consider hiring whistleblowers. “Their character is on public display and although they have lost a lot, their skills and competencies have not changed. An action like this will challenge any perception that whistleblowers are ‘troublemakers,'” Goodson said.
In response, in a letter dated October 20, De Ruyter acknowledged Goodson’s efforts. “I admire your determined courage to uphold the truth and the law, even when it clearly came at a considerable cost to you and your family,” De Ruyter wrote.
Deeply grateful
“You made a very substantial contribution to the successful recovery of Eskom funds that were illegally paid during the height of state capture, for which we are truly grateful.”
He noted that Goodson’s proposal that whistleblowers share financial recoveries made by public entities is the first of its kind and there is no provision in SA law for whistleblower compensation.
“As the law is in force, and taking into account Eskom’s duty to act in accordance with applicable law, unfortunately we cannot pay you a reward or the like for the information you disclosed,” De Ruyter wrote.
Noting that Goodson planned to establish an advisory firm for large corporations regarding whistle-blowing, De Ruyter invited Goodson to address a group of senior Eskom executives and managers to learn from his experiences as a whistleblower. “As usual in this type of invitation, there will be [be] a modest speaker fee associated with this event, “he said.
