The Cost of Corruption in South Africa

As far back as 2015, an article in respected publication The Daily Maverick estimated that South Africa had lost R700 billion in public money to corruption since the advent of democracy in 1994. 
We’re now almost a decade down the line and I shudder to think what kinds of figures might now be in the frame.

From Boxing Ring to Boardroom – Why the Fight for Fairness Shouldn’t Only be Fought in Sport

From the rain-soaked opening ceremony to the awarding of the very last medal, the 2024 Paris Olympics had its fair share of controversial moments – but perhaps none more so than the women’s boxing match between Italy’s Angela Carini and Algeria’s Imane Khelif.
After only 46 seconds – and two sickening head blows - Carini abandoned her fight, saying she had been hit so hard she “couldn’t breathe anymore” and feared for her life.
 

In The Line of Fire - When Investigators Become The Targets

In the past 10 years, targeted killings in South Africa have increased by 108%. This staggering statistic is quoted in a recent report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime (GI-TOC).
Perhaps even more concerning is how brazen these killers are becoming. Assassins appear indiscriminate about the time and location of their hits. Targets are frequently gunned down in broad daylight, in public places, and in some cases, horrifically, in front of children.

Is Cybersecurity the Achilles Heel for South African Law Firms?

In South Africa, poverty, corruption, and racial injustice overshadow the critical need for robust cybersecurity. Despite being Africa's top target for cyber criminals, underfunding and neglect persist. Human error, particularly through email vulnerabilities, plays a significant role in data breaches, making law firms especially vulnerable.

Freedom of the Press vs Freedom to Oppress: Protecting the People’s Right to Know

Africa has a dismal press freedom record.Thankfully, although South Africa can never pretend to be the poster child for democracy, press freedom is one thing we seem to have got right in our post-Apartheid years – it’s even enshrined in our constitution.However, we all know that it’s one thing to set down these ideals on paper, and another thing entirely to ensure they’re upheld in practice.

Youth Dividend or Ticking Time-Bomb

Many wave the entrepreneurship flag as the miracle cure-all for our unemployment crisis, but in South Africa, we have one of the highest start-up failure rates in the world, with 70 – 80% of start-ups failing in the first 5 years.
So, here’s the all-important question:
What do our failing education system, lack of employment opportunities and dismal entrepreneurial record have in common?
They are all symptoms of a serious disease – corruption.

Aggression Hides Transgression: Bheki Cele and why we need to shine a light into the darkness

It’s human nature to be defensive when we come under attack. But there’s a difference between defending our actions with reasonable justification and being blatantly aggressive to deflect attention away from the undesirable and inconvenient truth.
The recent altercation between our Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, and Action Society’s Ian Cameron is a classic case in point.

Lip Service. Stop Talking and Start Doing

GATVOL. That is what South Africans are feeling.
GATVOL about the staggering amounts of taxpayers’ money that the Guptas and their cronies stole during the nine ‘state capture’ years, with the full knowledge and cooperation of former president, Jacob Zuma.
GATVOL that the crime of the century took place under the noses of the deputy president at the time (Cyril Ramaphosa) and the entire Cabinet.....

Are Your Employees Putting Your Company At Risk?

They say that people are an organisation’s greatest asset. That, although salaries usually account for any company’s biggest expense, good employees don’t actually represent a cost, but rather a intelligent investment that ultimately offers a great return.
And it’s true that employees who perform well undoubtedly help your company perform well too. Your staff are at the heart of what makes your business tick, and multiple studies show that when employees feel valued and recognised, they are more engaged and productive. Productivity equals profits, so everybody wins.
 
Except when they don’t.
What happens when your employees, instead of contributing to your organisation’s success, are actually putting it at risk?