CYNTHIA STIMPEL TO WALK 700KM CAPE CAMINO TO RAISE AWARENESS AND RAISE FUNDS FOR WHISTLEBLOWERS FROM 6OCT-14 NOVEMBER 2024

By Ml Luqman Skink, INX Prime News and Current Affairs Editor

Whistleblower House Liaison Manager, Cynthia Stimpel, will embark on a unique fundraising journey by walking the Cape Camino in October. The initiative aims to raise awareness and provide financial support to whistleblowers who courageously expose the truth but often face severe consequences, including loss of employment, mental health issues, and social isolation.

THE CAPE CAMINO ROUTE

The Cape Camino covers approximately 700 kilometres, starting from Wellington and traversing across diverse coastal regions of the Cape Peninsula. The first Camino, which originated in Spain, is designed as a personal pilgrimage. In South Africa, the Cape Camino is seen as a National Asset and thrives to create a culture of peace, unity and thriving for the whole nation.

Cynthia said she first walked the Camino in Spain for reflection and forgiveness after her personal experience of parting ways with the national carrier, SAA, where she blew the whistle on corruption. At the time, she was the Group Treasurer of South African Airways.

’WHISTLEBLOWERS WHO SPEAK OUT SUFFER MAJOR SETBACKS’

Cynthia explained that the implications and repercussions faced by those who speak out against corruption are rarely understood. The story does not end there, because they then receive retaliation and victimisation from their organisations, from their colleagues at work, and from various people in their social groups.

”Hence... they lose their jobs, they cannot find further work and the knock-on effect of that is that they lose their livelihoods, their assets, their homes and cars because they cannot maintain them. Banks knock on their doors to take these assets away and the banks do not understand that they could easily write-off the debt to whistleblowers, but this is not happening.”

’WHISTLEBLOWERS ARE KILLED FOR DOING THE RIGHT THING’

Cynthia Stimpel reminded viewers about whistleblowers who paid the ultimate price for raising the alarm against corruption in recent years. The former Acting Gauteng Department of Health Chief Financial Officer Babita Deokaram was gunned down for investigating corruption at Tembisa Hospital. Others like Lieutenant Colonel Charl Kinnear, a key member of the police’s Anti-Gang Unit, was murdered outside his home in Cape Town.

THE PROBLEM WITH ENDEMIC CORRUPTION

A report by Corruption Watch indicates that, on average, there are approximately 4,000 cases of people speaking out against corruption every year. Cynthia said she believes the number could be much higher if we took into account the many people who do not speak out for fear of their lives and losing their jobs.

CAPE CAMINO TRAINING

Cynthia says she is in good shape in her preparations for the 700-kilometer walk. With her full-time work, she walks 5 km daily in the mornings and evenings. On weekends, she runs 10 km with a running club she has recently joined, and she also manages to fit in some yoga exercises.

TO DONATE AND SUPPORT THE CAUSE

Cynthia will embark on this epic journey between October 6 and November 14. To contribute and assist in relieving the plight of whistleblowers, visit the Whistleblower House website at www.whistleblowerhouse.org.