Fraudulent qualifications back in the news

Issue 3 2021 Security Services & Risk Management

A recently passed law that affects the employee screening environment considerably is the National Qualifications Framework Amendment Bill, which prevents people from misrepresenting qualifications on their CVs and in job applications. It allows SAQA (South African Qualifications Authority) to establish and maintain registers of misrepresented and fraudulent qualifications.

It has been said that it will allow a ‘name and shame’ process and there could be harsh consequences for those who lie about their qualifications.

In the past week we have seen three high profile politicians apparently claiming to have qualifications while this appears to not be true.

• The Western Cape leader Bonginkosi Madikizela’s official biography on the Western Cape government website claimed that he had obtained a BCom from UNISA in 1999, yet he does not have this qualification.

• The Saldanha Bay mayor, Marius Koen, claims to have an MBA from the University of Hull, but appears to be unable to produce the qualification.

• Natasha Mazzone, the Western Cape MEC for human settlements also appears to be under question for possibly portraying the image of having a legal qualification, yet she does not.

These are all people in a very public environment and there is a lot to gain or lose by making such information public, but what this does highlight is that companies need to remember that at least 5% of qualifications verified are fraudulent or invalid.

All companies should have a process in place to verify all qualifications presented in a job application or CV. If it is found that the qualification is not in fact genuine, the company, in the case of an employee, will have to follow disciplinary process and has the right to open a case of fraud with the SAPS. All of these processes are timely and costly and could impact company reputation. When hiring a new employee ensure an effective employee screening programme is implemented that verifies all information presented by a job applicant.


Credit(s)




Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page



Further reading:

Convergence of cyber and physical security
Integrated Solutions Security Services & Risk Management
The overlap between cybersecurity and physical security will necessitate the integration of cyber and physical security in order to enable the sharing of events to the same security operations centre.

Read more...
Reduce electrical risks in commercial and industrial buildings
Security Services & Risk Management
Eaton’s new whitepaper aims to help professionals reduce electrical risks in commercial and industrial buildings and prevent faults that can endanger workers, damage property and disrupt business continuity.

Read more...
Sustainability School opens for enrolment
Education (Industry) News Security Services & Risk Management
Three-part programme, first developed for Schneider Electric employees, is now available for free for companies worldwide. Attendees learn how to future-proof their businesses and accelerate their decarbonisation journeys.

Read more...
Success in business process best practices
Technews Publishing Kleyn Change Management Editor's Choice Integrated Solutions Security Services & Risk Management
This month we commandeer time with the woman who is spearheading our national conversation on Women in Security, Lesley-Anne Kleyn, to get to know the lady herself a little better.

Read more...
Security awareness training
Training & Education Security Services & Risk Management
It is critically important to have a security awareness solution that uses the limited time available to train effectively, and one that provides targeted education that is relevant to users.

Read more...
Technology to thwart solar panel thieves
Asset Management, EAS, RFID Security Services & Risk Management Products
A highly efficient industrial network is coming to the rescue of the solar industry, as solar panels, inverters and batteries are being targeted by thieves and threaten to destabilise the industry.

Read more...
Banking the unbanked comes with security risks
Financial (Industry) Security Services & Risk Management
As grim as it was, the pandemic of recent years and its resultant global economic crisis were a prime catalyst for record number of first-time bank users, the previously unbanked.

Read more...
Security is like infinity
Alwinco Security Services & Risk Management
Security needs constant attention, dedication and input. The scary thing is that most people think that security is something that you buy, install, and then forget about.

Read more...
Vulnerabilities in industrial cellular routers’ cloud management platforms
Industrial (Industry) Cyber Security Security Services & Risk Management
Research from OTORIO, a provider of operational technology cyber and digital risk management solutions, unveils cyber risks in M2M protocols and asset registration that expose hundreds of thousands of devices and OT networks to attack

Read more...
SAFPS to launch a platform to combat fraud
Editor's Choice News Security Services & Risk Management
In response to the growing need for a proactive approach to fraud prevention, the SAFPS is developing a product called Yima, which will be a one-stop-shop for South Africans to report scams, secure their identity, and scan any website for vulnerabilities.

Read more...