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| Case studies |
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| 6.1 Keeping it clean ? the whistle-blowing process at AngloGold |
AngloGold has introduced a
confidential reporting process ? or, to put it more colloquially,
?whistle-blowing?.
The purpose is to provide a channel for shareholders, the public and
employees to report: |
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practices that are in conflict with
AngloGold?s business principles; |
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unlawful conduct; |
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financial malpractice; or |
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dangers to the public or the environment. |
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Framed against the requirements of South Africa?s King Report on
Corporate Governance (2002) and Protected Disclosure Act, as
well as the United States? Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the AngloGold
process applies to all companies in the AngloGold Group.
Practically, it means that anyone who believes that they have
information regarding crime or irregularities in any of
AngloGold?s workplaces, can report these internally, in
confidence, independent of management, and anonymously if they
so wish.
A variety of methods are available: |
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telephone; |
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fax; |
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e-mail; |
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intranet; or |
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letter |
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Provided that informants act in good faith,
they are protected. If, however, they act maliciously, knowing
that the information they have disclosed to be untrue, they are
not.
Employees acting in good faith, for example, cannot lose their
positions or suffer any form of harassment or occupational
detriment, even if subsequently it is found they are mistaken.
AngloGold?s Group Internal Audit Manager, Hester Hickey, is the
custodian of the whistle blowing-process. She is independent of
the conventional AngloGold hierarchy and reports to the Board
Audit Committee, which is composed of non-executive board
members.
Any one found to be in breach of any laws or policies faces one
or a range of actions, including: |
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a warning; |
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suspension; |
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dismissal; and |
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criminal charges. |
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?The purpose of whistle-blowing is not to
investigate the reporter but rather, the actual disclosure,?
Hester explains. ?The spirit and intent of the process, I think,
is well captured in the catchphrase we have coined to promote
it: ?We want their names, not yours?.?
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