Athol Williams Explained

Athol Williams
Birth Name:Athol Williams
Birth Date:1970 6, df=yes
Birth Place:Cape Town, South Africa
Occupation:Writer, Applied Philosopher
Language:English
Nationality:South African
Alma Mater:Oxford University
London School of Economics
Harvard University
London Business School
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
University of the Witwatersrand
Notableworks:Deep Collusion
Bumper Cars
Pushing Boulders
Website:www.atholwilliams.com

Athol Williams (born 20 June 1970) is a South African poet, applied philosopher and public intellectual based at Oxford University.[1]

Life

Williams was born in Lansdowne, Cape Town, South Africa, and grew up in Mitchells Plain, the coloured township established under apartheid. Before becoming a professional writer and social philosopher, he worked in business for fifteen years, mainly as a strategy advisor.

It was at the University of the Witwatersrand, in 1991, that he published his first poem, "New South Africa", in the student publication Wits Student. The poem captured the newfound optimism associated with the release from prison of Nelson Mandela and other anti-apartheid leaders in 1990.

He is the co-founder of Read to Rise, an NGO that promotes youth literacy by making appropriate books available to children in poor communities and founder of the Institute of Social and Corporate Ethics (ISCE). He serves on the board of New Contrast Literary Magazine, a South African literary journal,[2] and is the founder of the Cape Flats Book Festival.[3]

Anti-corruption

Williams is acknowledged for his anti-corruption and ethical business stance. In October 2019, Williams blew the whistle on Bain & Company stating that they had withheld relevant information from the Nugent Commission investigating irregularities at South African Revenue Service.[4] [5] [6] [7] In December 2019, several media outlets reported that Bain had attempted to buy Williams's silence.[8] [9] [10] [11] The Nugent Commission found that Bain did not make full disclosure.[12] Bain have denied these allegations.[13] [14]

In March 2021, Williams testified for two days before the State Capture Commission presenting evidence relating to Bain's alliance with Jacob Zuma and Tom Moyane in alleged state capture in South Africa.[15] [16] [17] [18] The Commission's final report concluded that Bain's behaviour was 'unlawful' and praised Williams for rejecting hush money and acknowledged his contribution, stating 'it particularly wishes to express its appreciation to Mr Williams for the evidence he gathered and placed before the Commission.'[19] In November 2021, Williams published Deep Collusion: Bain and the capture of South Africa based on his testimony and experience at Bain.[20]

On 1 November 2021, Williams fled South Africa due to safety concerns. As a witness and whistle-blower who implicated dozens of individuals in the ongoing Zondo Commission, he feared possible reprisal.[21] [22] While in exile, Williams collaborated with Lord Peter Hain to draw global attention to Bain's corrupt activities in South Africa. One outcome of this campaign was the announcement by the UK government on 3 August 2022 that its investigation concluded Bain was 'guilty of grave professional misconduct' leading to a 3 year ban from state contracts.[23] [24] [25]

Academic

Williams holds three academic posts at Oxford University. In 2023 he was appointed Lecturer in Management at Said Business School[26] and Lecturer in Management at St Peter's College.[27] He has held the position of Research Associate at Hertford College[1] since 2022. In June 2024, Hertford College announced that it had awarded Williams its highest recognition, an Honorary Fellowship.[28]

He is the first person to earn five master's degrees from five global top-ranked universities.[29] He holds the following degrees:

Williams has held the positions of adjunct professor at University of the Witwatersrand and Senior Lecturer at the University of Cape Town, specialising in corporate responsibility and ethical leadership[34] He was also a Research Fellow in the Centre for Applied Ethics at the University of Stellenbosch.[35]

Writing

From 2009 to 2014, Williams published his poetry under the pseudonym AE Ballakisten. His poetry typically addresses four themes: (i) social justice as in the poems When It Rains, Protest in Colombo and Coat of Arms (ii) exploration of our humanity as in Your Song (iii) inspiration as we find in 39 Postcards or (iv) the surreal as in the poem At Home.

Williams's academic writing focuses on corporate responsibility and business ethics. He is often published in the media on topics of poverty,[36] [37] youth literacy,[38] social justice[39] and corporate malfeasance.[40] [41] [42]

Williams writes regularly on public affairs for publications in South Africa and is a regular radio guest and conference speaker. He has a regular column for Thought Leader[43] [44] and has recently published in the Mail & Guardian,[45] The Big Issue[46] and Business Day.[41]

Bibliography

Poetry

Non-fiction

Children's books

Awards and honours

Academic

Literary

Public Service

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Athol Williams.
  2. Web site: About Us. 2021-06-11. New Contrast Literary Magazine. en-ZA.
  3. Web site: Mitchells Plain hosting Cape Flats book festival ahead of National Book Week. 2021-06-11. www.iol.co.za. en.
  4. Web site: WATCH: Athol Williams shakes finance fraternity with public resignation from Bain & Company. 2021-06-11. www.iol.co.za. en.
  5. Web site: 2019-10-22. Athol Williams leaves Bain just six months after joining. 2021-06-11. www.consultancy.co.za. en.
  6. Web site: NATASHA MARRIAN: Whistleblower spills the beans on Bain. 2021-06-11. BusinessLIVE. en-ZA.
  7. Web site: The man who saw through Bain's spin and 5 highlights from 'Vrye Weekblad'. 2021-06-11. TimesLIVE. en-ZA.
  8. Web site: Mahlaka. Ray. 2019-12-19. Business Maverick: Athol Williams: 'Bain & Company trying to silence me about its role in State Capture'. 2021-06-11. Daily Maverick. en.
  9. Web site: Buthelezi. Londiwe. Bain 'fixer' Williams: 'I've been through hell the last 2 months'. 2021-06-11. Fin24. en-US.
  10. News: ex-partner-hired-to-fix-bain-south-africa-turns-against-firm . Bloomberg.com . Bloomberg . 19 December 2019. 2021-10-19.
  11. Web site: Natasha Marrian. Partner that Bain brought in to clear its image now accuses it of attempted cover-up. 2021-06-11. BusinessLIVE. en-ZA.
  12. Web site: SARS Commission 2018. 2021-06-11. www.inqcomm.co.za.
  13. Web site: Bain denies withholding evidence of alleged SARS wrongdoing eNCA. 2021-06-11. www.enca.com. en.
  14. Web site: Bain & Company Statement: December 20, 2019. 2021-06-11. Bain. en.
  15. Web site: Day 367. Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector including Organs of State.
  16. Web site: News. Eyewitness. WATCH LIVE: Athol Williams continues testimony at state capture commission. 2021-06-11. ewn.co.za. en.
  17. Web site: Nicolson. Greg. 2021-03-23. DAYS OF ZONDO: Bain & Co planned to work with Zuma to 'reshape SA economy', says former partner Athol Williams. 2021-06-11. Daily Maverick. en.
  18. Web site: State Capture I received a lot of threats - Athol Williams eNCA. 2021-06-11. www.enca.com. en.
  19. Web site: Zondo gives whistleblower Athol Williams a glowing tribute . 4 January 2022 .
  20. EXCERPT | Athol William's 'Deep Collusion': Bain & Co's meetings with Zuma. Athol. Willliams. Life.
  21. Web site: Public Statement - FORCED TO LEAVE. Athol Williams. 7 November 2021. 8 November 2021.
  22. Web site: Athol Williams: South Africa corruption whistle-blower flees for his life. 8 November 2021. 8 November 2021. BBC. en.
  23. News: Bain barred from UK state contracts over 'grave misconduct' in South Africa . Financial Times . 2 August 2022 .
  24. News: Bain consultancy banned from government work over 'misconduct' . BBC News . 3 August 2022 .
  25. News: Consultancy banned from Whitehall work over Zuma corruption claims . Ralph . Tom Howard .
  26. https://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/news/inspiring-others-thrive-renowned-poet-anti-corruption-campaigner-and-academic-athol-williams-joins-our-faculty
  27. https://www.spc.ox.ac.uk/people/athol-williams
  28. https://www.hertford.ox.ac.uk/news/athol-williams-awarded-honorary-fellowship
  29. News: SA poet receives Master's degrees from fifth top university Cape Times. 2018-01-29. en.
  30. WITS Review, January 2012, University of the Witwatersrand
  31. The Plainsman, 17 February 2010
  32. Web site: Interview with Athol Williams » Africa Oxford Initiative. www.afox.ox.ac.uk. en-GB. 2017-09-26. 26 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170926191449/http://www.afox.ox.ac.uk/news/interview-with-athol-williams/. dead.
  33. https://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/about-us/people/athol-williams
  34. Web site: UCT Graduate School of Business. 2021-06-11. www.gsb.uct.ac.za.
  35. Web site: PROSPER – US Philosophy Department. 2021-06-11. en-ZA.
  36. Web site: Williams. Athol. OPINION: The need to build a new South Africa for its 57 million inhabitants. 2021-06-11. News24. en-US.
  37. Web site: SA's poor bear the burden of Covid-19, says Prof Athol Williams. 2021-06-11. CapeTalk. en-ZA.
  38. Web site: 2018-12-12. Picture books: A great way to encourage children to read. 2021-06-11. The Mail & Guardian. en-ZA.
  39. Web site: Williams. Athol. Business as usual won't fix youth unemployment, poverty and inequality. 2021-06-11. Citypress. en-US.
  40. Web site: Six steps for company reparations. 2021-06-11. www.news.uct.ac.za. en.
  41. Web site: Criminal justice after corporate corruption is just the beginning. 2021-06-11. BusinessLIVE. en-ZA.
  42. Web site: Williams. Athol. 2018-10-15. OP-ED: What do we want from Bain?. 2021-06-11. Daily Maverick. en.
  43. Web site: Thought Leader opinion pieces brought to you by the Mail & Guardian.. Thought Leader.
  44. Web site: Athol Williams, Author at Thought Leader.
  45. Web site: 2021-03-14. Corporate amends: What is enough?. 2021-06-11. The Mail & Guardian. en-ZA.
  46. Web site: 2021-03-25. Living without chaos. 2021-06-11. The Big Issue South Africa. en-GB.
  47. News: Jou naam* . AE Ballakisten in conversation with Janet van Eeden . LitNet . 2012-02-15 . 2018-09-24.
  48. Web site: theartpress - POETRY BOOKS. theartpress. 24 September 2018.
  49. Web site: Fragile. 2021-06-11. Theart Press. en.
  50. News: Poetry blows the whistle on state capture, injustice and GBV in SA. www.iol.co.za. Daniels . Nicola .
  51. Web site: Deep Collusion - Bain and the Capture of South Africa (Paperback) .
  52. News: Join the fight against a 'grave evil' - corruption. Guy . Duncan .
  53. News: Westridge poet launches autobiography - Plainsman. 2016-10-12. Plainsman. 2017-10-10. en-GB.
  54. Book: Williams, Athol. B01M3Q1FNX. Pushing Boulders: Oppressed to Inspired. 2016-10-13. Theart Press. 1. English.
  55. Web site: Non-fiction. 2021-06-11. Athol Williams. en.
  56. Web site: theartpress - CHILDRENS BOOKS. theartpress. 24 September 2018.
  57. Web site: UCT academic authors free COVID-19 children's book. 2021-06-11. www.news.uct.ac.za. en.
  58. Web site: New free to download picture book helps children understand COVID-19. 2021-06-11. TimesLIVE. en-ZA.
  59. Web site: 2020-04-21. 'Oaky and the Virus' new book teaching children about the lockdown, virus. 2021-06-11. Good Things Guy. en-ZA.
  60. Web site: 2020-05-02. 'Oaky and the Virus' a New Book Teaching Children About COVID-19. 2021-06-11. Inside Education. en-US.
  61. Web site: Free books to help children understand COVID-19. 2021-06-11. ECR.
  62. Web site: Donna Slater . Children's author, publisher make Covid-19-awareness book available for free . Engineeringnews.co.za . 2020-04-17 . 2021-10-19.
  63. Web site: Oaky in the Playground. Theart Press.
  64. https://www.hertford.ox.ac.uk/staff/athol-williams-2
  65. https://www.hertford.ox.ac.uk/news/athol-williams-awarded-honorary-fellowship
  66. https://www.wits.ac.za/news/sources/alumni-news/2024/highest-honour-from-an-oxford-college-for-witsie.html
  67. https://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/news/ethics-scholar-athol-williams-made-honorary-fellow-university-oxfords-hertford-college
  68. Web site: 2016 Sol Plaatje European Union Poetry Award announced - a second win for Athol Williams. Jacana @ Sunday Times Books LIVE. en-US. 2017-10-10.
  69. Web site: Radcliffe Science Library Poetry competition 2016. www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk. 2017-10-10.
  70. Web site: Africa. PEN South. South African Independent Publishers PEN South Africa. 2021-06-11. en-US.
  71. Web site: Info . www.westerncape.gov.za. 2021-10-19.
  72. Web site: Athol Williams (South Africa) 2022 SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD .
  73. Web site: AWARDS-The South African Chamber of Commerce .
  74. Web site: City of Cape Town Council Address. 24 August 2023 . 2023-09-05 . City of Cape Town . en.
  75. Web site: 25 August 2023 . Cape Town bravery medal a ‘rare ray of light’, says whistleblower Athol Williams . Independent Online.

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