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CGF ARTICLES, OPINIONS & EDITORIALS

POLYGRAPH TESTING: IS IT A LEGITIMATE MEANS TO CURTAIL CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR IN THE WORKPLACE? (2017-07-07)

By Terrance M. Booysen and reviewed by Osborne Molatudi (Partner: Hogan Lovells)

On a worldwide basis, criminal activity in the workplace -- detected or undetected -- is at an all-time high.  Fraud, corruption and other forms of economic crimes are rife, and perceptions of increasing illicit behaviour are backed by reputable subject matter experts and research agencies, with alarming statistics.  Research conducted by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) show that workplace fraud has steadily increased between 2012 and 2016.  In 2012, case studies showed that the median loss caused by workplace related occupational fraud was US$140,000.  But by 2016, figures showed that the median loss caused by such cases had increased to US$150,000.

WHISTLEBLOWERS: VICTIMS OR VILLAINS? (2015-07-27)

Article by Terrance M. Booysen (CGF: Chief Executive Officer) and peer reviewed by Louis Strydom (Partner: PricewaterhouseCoopers)

For the past number of years South Africa has been placed in the spotlight when it comes to matters such as crime and corruption, and most of the surveys dealing with this scourge have a consistent message that this situation is not improving.  Once again, the PricewaterhouseCoopers 2014 Global Economic Crime Survey validates this dire situation where 69% of South African respondents indicated that they had experienced economic crime of various proportions.  Alarmingly, this figure of affected organisations had increased nine percentage points higher than in the previous survey results which were recorded in 2011.  Whilst the PwC Economic Crime Survey also noted a shift in the typical perpetrator (now being found in the senior management structures), most concerning is the fact that these perpetrators are typically males with university degrees who are aged between 31 and 40 and who have been with the same employer for over ten years.

ECONOMIC CRIME IN SOUTH AFRICA: FACT OR FICTION? (2015-05-27)

Article by Terrance M. Booysen and peer reviewed by Sharon van Rooyen (Partner: EY)

It’s a fact.  No matter which global or regional surveys a person may refer to, the latest 2014/15 surveys on economic crime all show that crime of this nature is on the increase.  Economic crime -- particularly fraud and corruption -- are causing organisations in both the public and private sector substantial financial losses, and increasing pressure on business to grow their revenues together with market volatility could be just some of the reasons why these crime statistics are increasing.