CGF ARTICLES, OPINIONS & EDITORIALS
July 27,
2015 12965 12965 
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.
July 15,
2015 86843 86843
Article by Jenè Palmer (CGF Lead Independent Consultant)
It has been painful to watch the likes of Lance Armstrong, Mike Tyson and Hansie Cronje sabotage their futures through poor decision-making. Similarly, many organisations and their boards have failed to demonstrate strong and responsible leadership qualities to motivate and drive their organisations to success. Awareness, decisiveness and accountability are some of the business leadership qualities required to achieve remarkable performances.
July 14,
2015 12623 12623
A stitch in time saves nine
Winter is well and truly here and the plummeting temperatures usually bring a fair amount of mayhem and discomfort with it. The good news is that with some simple preparations and planning to ‘winterise’ your home, cold temperatures don’t have to sub-zero your pocket or your mood.
July 14,
2015 12252 12252
Have you ever really thought about what would happen if you lost your home and all your possessions in a fire? If you live in a fire prone area, you may have an inkling of the anxiety and strain of being ordered to evacuate your home, or watching helplessly as walls of flames engulf your neighbourhood, desperately hoping that it doesn’t reach your home.
June 26,
2015 12293 12293
Article by Terrance M. Booysen and reviewed by Bruno Bruniquel (Bruniquel & Associates: Chairman)
As sad as it may be, the incidents of a particular colleague walking past your table and greeting you, or even asking about your weekend activities may not be as ‘innocent’ as you may first have thought.
May 27,
2015 13912 13912
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.
May 18,
2015 13324 13324
Presentation by Terrance M. Booysen
...it is imperative that we make a distinction between words such as “accountability”, “responsibility”, “must” and “should” – and specifically so in the context of its use within a boardroom and its organisation.
April 29,
2015 13503 13503
Article by Terrance M. Booysen and peer reviewed by Megan Grindell (Director: Carter DGF)
Irrespective of where you may live -- and no matter what your line of business and language may be -- universal thoughts most often expressed by people regarding corruption is obscured in darkness and negativity. Corruption is by no means something new; it has followed mankind throughout the ages and it continues to exist in various forms to include
grand corruption, political corruption, corporate and
administrative corruption, as well as
petty and
systemic corruption.
April 16,
2015 14383 14383
Article by Terrance M. Booysen
Corporate governance is one of the key elements many investors consider when they reflect upon the organisation’s success, as well as when deciding upon their investment choices. But when the organisation’s governance system shows signs of stress or failure, not only do astute investors understand the unsettling impact it has upon the organisation’s supply chain, they also become wary about its sustainability which may give rise to them re-considering to ‘weather the storm’ or ‘bail out’ so to speak.
April 15,
2015 13188 13188
Article by Terrance M. Booysen and reviewed by Niel Maritz (MKM Attorneys: Senior Partner)
As far back as biblical times, it seems that people were also concerned with the authenticity of a person’s signature. Although there were far fewer people in those ancient times who actually had the power, authority and means to validate official documents, most of those in positions of authority wore and used signet rings. Signet rings were unique to that person who was permitted to sign royal proclamations, among other official documents.