Branding whistle-blowers 'pariahs' undermines speaking truth to power | Weekend Argus

Lionel Adendorf is not everyone’s cup of tea. Some people find him arrogant. Others find him aloof. But, in all the years I have known him, I have always only seen the side of him that cares for the underdog and who is not afraid to speak truth to power.

In many ways, I see a younger version of myself in him and this could be why I have been following his career with great interest, from his days as a journalism student and leader at the Peninsula Technikon - when I was head of the journalism department - to his ascendancy in the ANC in the Western Cape, which saw him become spokesperson and a provincial executive committee member.

It is this obsession with telling the truth and standing up to power that has landed Adendorf in trouble. He lost his job in March 2017 after whistle-blowing on alleged irregularities in the Pretoria company where he worked and has not been able to find permanent employment since. Last week, after keeping quiet for a long time Adendorf finally spoke up on social media, sharing the stories of his struggles since falling foul of the powers-that-be in Nuclear Technology Products Radioisotopes SOC Ltd .

Adendorf discovered the hard way that not many people like those who squeal on their colleagues and who stand up for the right thing - even though everybody professes to do so.

LionelAdendorf I am sorry to read about this, sir. I agree with rylandfisher that you're a man of integrity. All the best! 🙏

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