NTSIEPE MASOETSA

South Africa has sufficient legislation to combat fraud. This is according to Jaco de Jager, chief executive officer of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACEF), speaking at a fraud awareness seminar held in Bloemfontein recently. The seminar in Bloemfontein was part of International Fraud Awareness Week.
He says, however, that the country’s anti-fraud legislation is not sufficiently enforced to deter fraudsters.
The 2012 ACFE Report to the Nations states:

Free State Finance MEC Seeiso Mohai says the provincial government has recorded a 20% reduction in fraud activities from the previous financial year and praises the media for exposing fraud. He adds government has adopted strategies to ensure that fraud is rooted out of society. “Fraud is something that is not wanted – it undermines the gains that we have made as a people and as society.”
Peter Goss, a partner and director at Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC), says fraud and corruption pose a serious problem in South Africa. “What we see now is the tendency that it is escalating to higher levels of authority across business, civil society and public services.” He adds their survey shows the level of economic crime has grown drastically at senior management level.
The University of the Free State through its Business School was also part of the awareness week. Liezl Muller, its marketing director, says they are committed to assisting organisations in the prevention of fraud and corruption by raising the general level of awareness among employees. “The Business School offers short certificate programmes, workshops and interventions to assist organisations,” says Muller.