EOH Holdings Ltd, the South African IT company reeling after an anonymous complaint prompted Microsoft Corp to abruptly cancel a contract, has created an app that will make that process easier for future whistleblowers.<\/p>\n
Expose-It, which was made available for download on Monday, enables those with sensitive information about their company or organization to pass it on to relevant authorities without fear of being identified.<\/p>\n
The app is designed to encourage \u201cthe safe, anonymous exposure of wrongdoing, both within EOH and without,\u201d chief executive officer Stephen van Coller said in an email to employees.<\/p>\n
The irony of the timing won\u2019t be lost on staff. EOH shares plunged last week after Microsoft ended its association with the South African company.<\/p>\n
Johannesburg\u2019s TechCentral website reported that a whistle blower\u2019s allegations about a South African government software deal were behind the US software giant\u2019s decision.<\/p>\n
EOH\u2019s public sector contracts have long been a matter of scrutiny, and the company said on Tuesday that it\u2019s probing all such deals over the past five years with the help of a law firm.<\/p>\n
Van Coller, a former executive of lender Absa Group Ltd. and wireless carrier MTN Group Ltd., was brought in by EOH last year partly to restore the company\u2019s reputation and boost corporate governance. The shares have plunged 77% in the past 12 months, and are the worst performers on South Africa\u2019s benchmark index in 2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cCompliance is critical to our reputation, but as the old saying goes, culture eats governance for breakfast,\u201d Van Coller said in his email introducing Expose-It to staff. The app \u201cwill help further elevate our corporate culture.\u201d<\/p>\n