After a 6 month campaign to find South Africa’s most honest public servant, Captain Vinny Pillay from Umhlali police station in Kwa-Zulu Natal was announced as South Africa’s first Integrity Idol last weekend.
The event, held at the Artscape theatre in Cape Town, brought together international business, civil society and the diplomatic corps to “name and fame” five finalists, all of whom have dedicated incredible integrity in their work.
In January 2018 the Accountability Lab and partners, including the Nelson Mandela Foundation, LifeCo UnLtd and Democracy Works Foundation asked South Africans to nominate public servants that are working with integrity and “doing the right thing even when no-one is watching”.
The group received hundreds of nominations from across the country and a distinguished panel of South Africans helped narrow down the field to the top 5.
The other finalists were Nurse Elizabeth Mkhondo, a nurse from Stanza Bopape Community Clinic in Mamelodi East; Firemen and EMS responders Jocelin Flank and Deon Esau from Florida Fire Department in Johannesburg; General Doctor Mirja Delport from Outshoorn; and Teacher Natascha Meisler; from PT Combined school in Trompsburg, Free State.
The Accountability Lab made short films of the finalists and asked South Africans to vote for their favorite Integrity Idol via SMS, Whatsapp and online.
Thousands of people cast votes, even starting social media campaigns to highlight the work of their favourites, encouraging others to celebrate integrity within government service.
After receiving the award, Captain Pillay said “It’s important to examine our own integrity in an effort to restore morals and values that are core to a functioning society. I am hoping to make a bigger difference in my community and work with the other Integrity Idols in realizing more concrete change in South Africa.”
Faith Pienaar, who led the campaign on behalf of the Accountability Lab explained why it is important: “These Integrity Idols show the incredible work that is possible within public service in South Africa- we are in desperate need of a positive conversation about the role of public servants as a means to restore trust. That is why “naming and faming” these heroes is so critical, in many ways Integrity Idol as a public exercise helps us to reimagine our country and its possibilities. Tonight, we saw the energy that this can create and the vision South Africans have for a better future”.
Integrity Idol winner Captain Vinny Pillay with Marlene le Roux of The Artscape, Mandfred Pernitsch of BMW South
Africa, Bishop William Mostert of the South African Church, Charissa Hector of BMW South Africa and Blair
Glencorse, Executive Director and Founder of The Accountability Lab.
The Accountability Lab and partners will continue to share the stories of the Integrity Idols, while
also working to connect them to share lessons, collaborate and bring their colleagues into the
movement.
The team is building out the campaign in preparation for Integrity Idol 2019- details
for nominations and voting will be available on the website later in the year.
