CIPRO at epicentre of SA's fraud pandemic

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa is currently in the midst of a fraud pandemic. At its epicentre is the Companies and Intellectual Property Registration Office (CIPRO). Over the past two years corrupt officials at CIPRO, acting with seeming impunity, have facilitated hundreds if not thousands of scams which have hit the South African Revenue Service, a number of prominent companies, and hundreds of smaller private businesses.

Two weeks ago we reported how in 2008 duplicates of Sun Microsystems South Africa Pty Ltd and SBC International Management Services were fraudulently registered as companies on CIPRO (see article). Bank accounts were set up in these counterfeit companies' names. R51m in tax refunds from SARS, due to the legitimate companies, were then diverted into the counterfeit's accounts.

An investigation has revealed that this CIPRO based scam was just the tip of the tip of the iceberg. Counterfeit companies are being fraudulently registered through CIPRO, on an ongoing daily basis, to facilitate cheque and other forms of fraud. No proper due diligence is being done. Over the past two years the directors of several prominent companies have also been fraudulently deregistered, and new directors inserted. Again, the intention is to facilitate fraud of one kind or another.

Counterfeit companies

One of the most prevalent scams involves the registration of duplicate or counterfeit companies. These are companies which almost the same name as the real company. For instance, Avusa Media is a well known media company. In terms of proper procedure CIPRO is not allowed to register companies with a similar name. However, in October 2008, officials at CIPRO fraudulently approved the reservation of the name Avusa Media (Gauteng), and shortly afterwards a company of that name was established. Its sole director is one ‘P.M. Masondo' of Leyds Street Pretoria.

Once the company has been registered the fraudsters - who operate using stolen identities - then attempt to establish bank accounts in the name of the counterfeit company. If the bank officials are honest and alert the real company will be contacted and the fraud nipped in the bud. But all too often an account is successfully set up. This is then used to facilitate fraud against the legitimate company, its clients and suppliers, and innocent third parties.

Clients are sometimes contacted and informed that the banking details of the real company have been changed (to that of the counterfeit.) ‘Overpayments' may be made using the counterfeit company's cheques to the legitimate company's suppliers and the fraudsters will ask for a refund.

In many cases cheques are intercepted at the South African Post Office. Companies with similar names to the recipients of the cheque are then fraudulently registered through CIPRO. Bank accounts are established in that company's name, the cheques are cashed, and the money removed. Usually, the counterfeit company uses the same name with a word (such as Gauteng) or a number (usually 01) added to the end. If need be, the fraudster can simply add the "01" to the named beneficiary on the stolen cheque, and it can then be deposited into their account.

In order to give an indication of the extent of the problem we are publishing a list of 114 duplicate companies (see here) alongside the real businesses and organisations they are trying to impersonate. We have very strong grounds for believing that almost all were established fraudulently, with the intention of perpetrating fraud. We have contacted a sample of the real companies listed. Not a single one had approved the duplicate. Some were unaware of their counterfeit version. A large proportion had been targeted successfully or unsuccessfully by fraudsters using the counterfeit company's identity.

Given our time constraints we were only able to contact a small number of the legitimate companies. However, the following confirmed they had been targeted: Schindler's Lifts, SA Guide Dogs Association, Giants Canning, Trident Steel, Johannesburg Tractor Spares, G and L Agencies, Marlboro Crane Hire, Hypersave Supermarket, Space Television, Colletts Pharmacy, The Media Shop, and AfriSave Cash and Carry.

Hijacked companies

Between 2007 and 2009 a series of well known South African companies have had their legitimate directors deregistered on the CIPRO system. New directors were inserted, probably using stolen identities. In 2007 one ‘Michael Thembinkosi Mahlaba' - in reality a tractor driver living and working near Howick, KwaZulu Natal - was inserted as the director of Hellermanntyton, Renold Crofts and MacSteel Tube and Pipe. Other companies affected by this type of fraud include Cashbuild (South Africa), The Lion Match Company, Trident Steel, Fleet Street Publications, Tedelex and Gardena (SA).

Most of these frauds were carried out using the electronic lodgement of the C29m (details of directors) form. Due to weaknesses in the system agents accessing the CIPRO database could change the names of directors of any company at will. This was done from ‘outside' but it did require insider knowledge. Despite being notified of the problem as early as October 2007 CIPRO only acted in February this year. E-lodgements of the CM29 form were temporarily suspended on February 25 2009 by then acting CEO Renier du Toit. However, this did not stop the problem completely. On April 8 2009 someone inside CIPRO deregistered the two legitimate directors of BLSA industries (the company which manufactures PoolBrite). One ‘Ndumiso Terran[ce] Mzazi' was inserted as the sole director instead.

All but two of the companies contacted said they were unaware of any consequent fraud. However, one did say that an individual, claiming to be the new owner, tried to open a bank account in the company's name. He had various company documents, correspondence with the firm's attorneys, and a certificate issued by CIPRO stating that he was the sole director of the company. A first effort in Johannesburg failed after the company was alerted by the branch concerned. But he later succeeded in opening an account in a small town and the fraudsters used the good name and reputation of the company to conduct various cheque and credit card frauds.

Some companies have been hit both by hijacking and counterfeiting scams. As noted above MacSteel had directors in a subsidiary deregistered. In July 2008 a counterfeit company called MACSTEELI TRADING was established for purposes unknown. Trident Steel meanwhile has been subjected to a sustained assault by fraudsters employing, inter alia, the following counterfeit companies: Trident Steel 22 (February 2007), Trident Sterling Tube-Manufactures (November 2007), Trident Tube Manufacturer (November 2007), Trident Steel (East) (January 2008), Trident Sterling Tube Manufacturers (Gauteng) (January 2008), Trident Steel Experts Construction and Projects (January 2009.) Trident Steel is a trademark and other companies are not allowed to use those two words in their name. This, and the company's complaints, did not stop CIPRO from waving through these names over a two year period.

Comment

Once the counterfeited (or hijacked) company has been registered and a bank account opened it becomes very difficult for the police to solve subsequent frauds. The new directors usually use forged or stolen identities. A common practice is for the fraudsters to use stolen identity documents and scan and electronically alter proof of residence documents in order to meet FICA requirements. Unless the fraudsters are caught in the act, or with the false IDs in their possession, it is almost impossible to successfully nail them. Moreover, those caught are usually just runners. They would often rather go to prison for a few years than put their families at risk by fingering the syndicate bosses masterminding the scams (often Pakistanis and Nigerians).

In a written response to a query from Politicsweb CIPRO CEO Keith Sendwe said he was aware of the basic points we raised. The organisation, he said, was "pulling out all stops to prevent fraudulent activities taking place." His full reply to our questions can be found here.

In their reply Standard Bank stated: "Although we are aware of the extent of the problem of cheque interception and fraud and of accounts being opened fraudulently and in some cases with similar names to registered entities, we have not confirmed that this is as a result of alleged corruption in CIPRO, nor that legitimate details are or have been altered at CIPRO. We are not able to comment on allegations which are clearly being made against CIPRO."

Nedbank, First National Bank, ABSA and the Department of Trade and Industry had not responded to our requests for comment by the time of publication.

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In many cases cheques are intercepted at the South African Post Office. Companies with similar names to the recipients of the cheque are then fraudulently registered through CIPRO. Bank accounts are established in that company's name, the cheques are cashed, and the money removed. Usually, the counterfeit company uses the same name with a word (such as Gauteng) or a number (usually 01) added to the end. If need be, the fraudster can simply add the "01" to the named beneficiary on the stolen cheque, and it can then be deposited into their account."

 

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114 dodgy duplicate companies »

What CIPRO had to say »

Comments

 

responses to this article

Wow Eishh! Indeed, we have become a "Striking" Fraudulent Nation. Typical of Africa. by $ on August 07 2009, 04:50 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

fraud Sue CIPRO!!! by js on August 07 2009, 06:27 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Zululand Sadly , this is what happens when unsuited (read black political appointments) persons are placed in positions requiring ethical , hard nosed business men with proven track records by Green Room on August 07 2009, 07:37 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

PUBLISH THEIR NAMES Please publish the names the names of all senior staff at CIPRO, and let them convince the public that they were carrying out their responsibilities with due diligence. The onus is on them. There is nothing unusual or legally problematical . .more about publishing the names of civil servants in key positions. Don't leave it to the "responsible Minister" [oximoron!] or the DGG or the DDG to blow hot air in our faces -- publish all the names of those who should have known. . .less by S.N. on August 07 2009, 07:47 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

For crying out loud I have two W**** houses operating openly within walking distance of where I live. Every Thursday I have some idiots searching through my garbage for "paper" I have to contend with RICA, FICA, idiot cavalcades of cars on the . .more freeway. Now lets see I should be a good whitey and pay my tax and traffic fines and do a BEE deal and employ people to clean my house and give R50K and give ... Yeah right, when Afreekans learn to run a society along the lines of the rest of the world, until then I will do whatever and however I feel . .less by Tony Soprano on August 07 2009, 08:05 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

ISO 9001 compliant? "Cipro Quality Policy The management and personnel of CIPRO are committed to servicing our customers with excellence to ensure their continued satisfaction. This will be achieved by implementing and maintaining a quality management system which . .more complies with the South African National Standards ISO 9001:2000." I believe ISO 9000 complinace is subject to revocation. I shall take the matter up with the International Standards Organisation. (For some strange reason, I suspect approaching ISO's local agents, the SABS, may not be very effective .... ) . .less by S.N. on August 07 2009, 08:21 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Is SA the new Nigeria? Arn't we perhaps worse? Just asking. by Bruce on August 07 2009, 08:46 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Another ANC success story Let's not forget, Sendwe is the genius behind awarding the document management tender to Valor IT... by donovan on August 07 2009, 08:47 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Complain to SABS CIPRO cliams to be "ISO9001 compliant. This means that they claim to have quality assurance procedures in place to ensure that everything works as it should. What has happened, clearly means that their ISO9000 certification should be withdrawn. The . .more International Standards Organisation has devolved the certification authority onto the SA Bureau of Standards. Will everyone please contact the SABS and insist that they withdraw ISO9000 certification from CIPRO -- and issue a media release to that effect? If SABS refuses and mealymouths their way out of it, then we can ask ISO to withdraw certification authority from SABS. Many government departments and quasi-state organisations claim to be ISO-9000 compliant. It would send a message if they could be stripped of this -- publicly. . .less by S.N. on August 07 2009, 08:51 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

WELCOME!! Welcome to the Circus of South Africa. And the reply from SBSA is as grovellingly P******* as one would expect. 'You scratch my back I'll scratch yours, or anything, anything, anything, anything, please, please, please!!". by CICERO on August 07 2009, 08:56 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Greenroom spot on ! enough said you said it all by Basil on August 07 2009, 09:04 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

The law is only for law abiding citizens. Did you see Louis Theroux'x documentary last night (BBC). it seems the only way to sort this out is to get a bigger thug to bat for you (literally). by Albie on August 07 2009, 10:21 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Standard Bank not being open... I know for a fact that a company belonging to Std Bank has been affected by this fraud in the past 6 months. Their reply is a politically correct load of waffle, aimed at not ruffling government feathers. Trevor Manuel was correct, companies are cowards . .more in this company. If it looks like a rat and walks like a rat... it is a rat, and call it by its name for heaven's sake. CIPRO is ROTTEN to the core. . .less by Joe on August 07 2009, 10:38 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Who needs the Nigerians? Paleantologist: "Wonder if there is any Nigerian involvement as it seems from reports they are masters in this sort of thing" What an unpatriotic thing to say! The Nigerians can teach us nothing -- the ANC are now the grandmasters of . .more corruption. The Mbeki gang came close to perfecting it, but still got caught out. When Comrade Blade finishes transforming the universities, Nigerians will come to South Africa to get their MBAs from our transformed Business Schools. . .less by S.N. on August 07 2009, 11:07 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

"P*******"?? Will the towering intellectual who monitors this site please tell me what is unacceptable about the word "P*******" above in my foregoing comment to describe the miserably arsecrawling, mewling, statement of SBSA on this article? IE." . .more ....grovellingly P*******....." Are you also employed by the pusillanimous institution. USE A GOOD DICTIONARY!! REPLY PLEASE!! How deep does this stink go! . .less by CICERO on August 07 2009, 11:26 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Good investigative journalism Thanks Mr. Myburgh by Good journalism on August 07 2009, 11:46 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Zululand Apparently the head of the institution in question is white!!! by Bobo on August 07 2009, 11:47 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Direction Is this not the direction of everything in this country? Break it down, and once broken, try to fix it. And we, the loyal tax payers, now have to fill in more and more documents to get anything done, while the system is corrupt. by Lukeman on August 07 2009, 12:03 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Typical This must be a black thing... by ActionCop on August 07 2009, 12:11 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Do posts work? Do they? by ActionCop on August 07 2009, 12:14 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

HaHa My posts are not posted - moneyweb seems 'dictated' by Silent on August 07 2009, 12:15 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Take action on them Take action on them by Attorneys and general on August 07 2009, 12:16 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

So what's the point of FICA? Clearly it's not an impediment to opening fraudulent bank accounts en masse. But it does create a high cost, hugely irritating admin burden for honest account holders and banks. This ANC government's real skill is passing useless legislation that protects . .more noone. . .less by Gatvol on August 07 2009, 12:36 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

SABS is investigating I complained to the SA Bureau of Standards about CIPRO's ISO9000 quality assurance certification -- and got a response withing 30 minutes! This must be an SA record. They wroite: "An official complaint has been opened on our system and will be . .more investigated by the Certification Manager of our Services Certification Cluster and her audit team. Your direct contact will be Ms Faiza Salie (Certification Manager), her email address is salief@sabs.co.za. You will be advised of the outcome of our investigation once the investigation has been completed." I wonder if DTI (CIPRO's host) also has ISO9000 certification? Some more medals to be stripped? I'll check ... . . .less by S.N. on August 07 2009, 14:24 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Cicero I can think of many P-words ... but not one with so many letters. If it's poppycock, check your etymological dictionary -- it's worse than you think [Dutch origin] by S.N. on August 07 2009, 14:43 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

sheesh James you are damn good at this stuff. by x on August 07 2009, 15:29 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

fica-ed I've been FICA-ed so often I feel as if I'm a financial W**** who's been F**-ked. Point is useless politicians and their equally useless sidekicks make laws ostensibly to outsmart the criminals, who just happen to be infinitely smarter than . .more politician and sidekick combined. And the law abiding citizen has to put up with both the inconvenience of it all, and the crime as well. . .less by mpho on August 07 2009, 15:31 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

thank you anc we can only say thank you to the anc..... by onlooker on August 07 2009, 16:03 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

P******* Look in the Oxford Concise Dictionary for P*******,: "arousing pity, or sadness or contempt. miserably inadequate. F pathetique LL patheticus." Do they educate these people nowadays? Watch Austropathecus Africanus take the whole . .more line out! . .less by @S.N. on August 07 2009, 16:08 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@S.N. - P******* Look in the Oxford Concise Dictionary for P*******,: "arousing pity, or sadness or contempt. miserably inadequate. F pathetique LL patheticus." Do they educate these people nowadays? Watch Austropathecus Africanus take the whole . .more line out! . .less by CICERO on August 07 2009, 16:10 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

ECM CIPRO I wonder why there is still such a fuss about the awarding of the ECM tender to ValorIT. CIPRO had a press conference where they were able to show that the procurement process they went through was stringent and vigorous. Being black does not equate . .more stupidity as people of caucasian ascendency perceive. Valor IT won the tender based on the robustness of the solution and the value for money based on the pricing. It is my belief that the very same critics of the CIPRO management are the key drivers of the non-transformational agenda. The implementation of ECM on its own will contribute largely to the curbing and the elimination of white collar crime both internal and external of CIPRO. I believe that we should allow an opportunity to black companies such as Valor IT who have shown the understanding of the business and the technology to meet some if not most of the current issues. Donovan I appreciate your commentary however I think that you are off the point since this article has nothing to do with the appointment of the said service provider. Your comment smack of racia intolerance and biasness towards a particular racial group. To me it is empty and without cause and therefore I plead with you to be factual rather than sensational. We all fought for the country and the emancipation of all South Africans! . .less by PNK on August 07 2009, 16:53 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Brilliant investigative journalism! Mr Myburgh, you are a National Asset! Well Done! ... interesting that Domza et al are significantly absent here. by Saffer on August 07 2009, 17:34 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

VROT ROTTEN ROTTEN ROTTEN ROTTEN ROTTEN ROTTEN This is the core of our country being eaten by maggots. Maggots who have no regard for anything or anyone except themselves and their self enrichement. Every day we are seeing that they infest every . .more single level of government and public institution. Who is in charge of CIPRO. Why are they still even in a job? Which ministry is it, why is that minister still in a job Fire the incompetents, jail the accomplices and kill the maggots. We have no other choice, 5 more years of this and we a finished for good! . .less by GT on August 07 2009, 17:40 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@ECM CIPRO You are living in a racial never-never land. Read the NOSEWEEK article, or is that too rich for you. Your comment (sic) smack (sic) of racial intolerance. Real African pomposity to boot. Why not write in your home language, you would be . .more surprised how many of us understand it. However. I do realise that it probably does not lend itself to a rational, westernised discussion, anymore than you do. Absolutely refuse to admit the truth. What hope ie there for your country. You can take the black out of the bush ( & teach him English ) but you cannot take the bush out of the black. . .less by CICERO on August 07 2009, 17:40 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Whose fault is it really? Now how did SA became such a corrupt state? Is the answer perhaps to be found in the kind of government that was selected for South Africa by the victorious white left, in the form of the Black Sash, the Anglican Communion, an assortment of Commies, etc? . .more Was it just perhaps because these people supported the ANC and a unitary constitution, which delivers all BUT ALL to the central ruling party, and its comrades and cadres? Whose fault is it? The thieves in CIPRO, or their enablers who worked so hard in the 1980s to get them in place? . .less by JVR on August 07 2009, 19:02 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Not confined to Cipro Someone at SARS has been leaking who's getting refunds - dummy accounts are opened in these genuine companies' names. Once again, the name of Standard Bank is at the fore. It seems they are so busy FICAing their honest customers of years' . .more standing that they have no time to get to know their new ones. . .less by CJB on August 07 2009, 20:19 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

PNK your post is just plain stupid. The article is not about Valor IT getting a contract. It is about corrupt, thieving bastards who are not being brought to book by useless 'managers' like Keith Sendwe. I wonder what proportion of the fraudsters will be brought in front of a judge and of those that face trial the proportion that . .more eventually convicted will be pathetically small. Evidence that the "manager" is just that in name only. . .less by semaarnet on August 07 2009, 21:16 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Aegean Stables Congratulations to the investigators who blew the whistle on this monumental fraud. Hercules labour of cleaning of the Aegean Stables was a minor feat compared what our new Hawk (only one "Hawk' appointed so far I believe) must do. " When . .more I think of all the media fuss, drama and threats of freezing bank accounts, prosecution if everyone was not registered for FICA, and the hard line taken by SARS against small misdemeanours, my blood pressure rises until I could burst a blood vessel and I want to hit someone. Why are the banks and Business SA not making more of a noise about this unbelievable betrayal of national trust? Who wants to be taxpayer in this country when institutions created for public security and benefit are allowed to commit fraud on such a scale? In China, these criminals and those accountable would be taken outside within a week and executed, their organs donated to those in need. In Japan those in charge would commit suicide so as not to bring permanent disgrace on their families. In any self respecting Muslim state they would lose at least both hands. But here in SA their human rights are protected as " innocent until tried in a court of law and proven guilty" and the perpertrators and their supervisors will probably be suspended on full pay for years until the cases come to court. . .less by mayday on August 07 2009, 21:56 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

PLEASE, Stop this nonsense PNK - you highlight a very important issue. No, not the Valour deal, rather the inability of people to see past skin colour and to seen criminals for what they are - CRIMINALS. End of story. At the moment every time I give out my ID number and home . .more address to a government dept I feel like I am giving it to the mafia. I have lost total confidence in the ability of every department that I deal with to hold my information safely. Even SARS has shown itself to be severely infected by this virus. Crikey - even the banks are on selling contact details so they can profit "cross sell" Sounds harmless, but where does it end?? The mindset we have in SA is "sell to the best backhand" Someone, somehow has got to draw a very firm line and start acting aggresively. Forget Cele and his cowboys & crooks games, we need JZ & every minister to NAIL the slighest misdemeanor everytime, without exception. Yes, there are dedicated good people working in these places but they need to bliksem the C*** out those with weak ethics and sticky fingers and make people wake up to the fact that once these critical institutions fail, the citizens have NOTHING to protect them from complete anarchy. Once that happens, even you and your precious Valor IT will be out of work and fighting for survival. . .less by GT on August 07 2009, 22:04 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@JVR Quite right JVR but we all know that many of these"enablers" now live overseas, many with of their chortling compatriots, some of whom fled to avoid the looming judicial process they feared. Countries like OZ, Canada, nowadays will not readily consider . .more extradition to RSA because of the "appalling state of our prisons". The laugh is really on the rest of us. And how they must be amused by the fact that they have very effectively created their own secure cocoon. Succoured & protected by our own race who probably collectively hold them in as much contempt as we do. The future looks persistently bleak. But at least we have sunshine & the joy of thrashing the Ozzies this pm, hopefully! Its the little things that keep me going. By the by, there is a fraudulent substitute also now writing under "CICERO", despite my indignant objections at the blatant hijacking! But that's the SA way! Nest pas? . .less by THE GENUINE CICERO on August 08 2009, 10:50 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Wake up Banks ! Wake up ! The reality is that much of this fraud can be prevented through the use of IT, proving timely and relevant information in a tamper proof manner. But the banks can do much more to get the debate going on digital signatures by Nic Roets on August 08 2009, 11:59 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@mayday Augean stables, actually. King Augeas owned the largest herd of cattle in the world and, because they were divine cattle and divinely healthy, the cattle produced prodigious amounts of divinely healthy BS. Hercules was given a single day in . .more which to clean the stables. The ANC has been sanctified by what they like to call their "Struggle" (mostly a struggle to milk gullible Scandinavians and American Quakers for money to pay their university fees abroad). So ANC BS is sacred just like that of the Augean cattle. Best to leave the stables as they are. Let them suffocate in their own sanctified BS. Let matters take their course -- until the ANC follows other African "Liberation" Movements into oblivion. It's called natural selection. . .less by S.N. on August 08 2009, 17:21 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@S.N. Very well put. A man with a classical leaning! But what will happen to the other Saffers, of all hues, who are not at the primal trough? Bearing in mind that we are discovering every day that the dinosaurs took many others with them, leaving . .more the little runts, us. . .less by GENUINE CICERO on August 09 2009, 10:29 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Augean Stables @ S.N. thanks for the correction. always glad to learn something by mayday on August 10 2009, 10:58 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

It's time to make each person legally accountable for their actions for life. It's time to make each person legally accountable for their actions for life. by Immoral on August 10 2009, 14:23 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Immoral what planet are you on? Get real - in the parochial village that I live you have illiterate morons as councillors whose only aim is to buy a new car and then drive it at high speed because they are late for a meeting! Have a look at the gobbledegook that the Chief Financial Officer (sic) of this town is quoted as . .more saying in the press http://jv.news24.com/Regional_Papers/Components/Category_Article_Text_Template/0,,387_2545937~E,00.html. This individual cannot produce financial statements with the previous years figures for comparison as per good accounting practice plus promises that that the new rates tariff will not result in exorbitant increases at ratepayers meetings. I have a 54% increase in my rates which are now double that of a comparable town like Hermanus for fewer services. Lies and theft are the only way that the idiots that are appointed by the ANC can do anything. Just look at Scopa's Godi - all those who lied to Parliament are going to get off scott free. Guaranteed. While it may be time to make each person legally accountable try starting with the convicted fraudsters Shaik and Yengeni and dream on. Travel back to South Africa from overseas and one can only but realise that everyone who does business in South Africa puts a discount on doing business here precisely because of the corruption and nonsensical statements like that of the CFO above. Africa is a disaster. . .less by semaarnet on August 10 2009, 19:08 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

transformation It is sad that when a black CEO's embarks on his transformation agenda, then the cabals start crying! An environment that has been so infested by their "white' collar crime activities becomes haunting, and the guilty ones revolt, because their long . .more standing territories are being invaded ,and unbelievably so, the invasion is from those they have stereotyped as stupid , those they have undermind and those they have always believed will never be able to root out the fraud and corruption that they have entrenched.They have become whistle blowers just to divert attention from themselves,their friends in other strategic business areas and from their husbands and wives who use current state resourchees to destroy and give an impression that "blacks are incompetent" yet they know the truth!-the structures within JZ's goverment should strenghthen their clean up campaigns and root out all the corrupt officials who deprive south africans of the service they deserve.Those in cipro who are keen to see it being transformed should be bold enough to tackle these issues head on. ..VIVA . .less by bongs-ms on August 11 2009, 20:41 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Let's look at the bright side At least CIPRO is nicely "transformed". There might have been a little loosening of standards along the way but we can proudly say that their management reflect the racial ratios of the country. The solution is easy. I say bring in the Scorpions . .more ... oh... yeah, sorry, I forgot. The new SA motto - "If it can go wrong, as long as the ANC are in power - it will." All together now - "Yes it can ! " . .less by Sad Days on August 12 2009, 10:06 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Fair Process I want to know what recourse one has against a corporate(bank) when their own minimum advertised requirements are not met for a job? However they still go ahead and employ people who do not meet the minimum criteria. Should they not readvertise the . .more position stating their new criteria should they be unable to fulfill that post thus giving all previous applicants a fair chance to reapply and also contactingll those applicants that were unsuccessful into the LRA. . .less by Sunny Naidoo on August 25 2009, 09:55 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Whatever the govt does turns to S*** No matter what you do. no matter how much written requests and or complaints you make it all falls on deaf ears. We have been threatened by CIPRO to cancel our company a few times. I say let them. That way we simply revert to private business and stop . .more having to operate with all teh draconian laws set up to so call protect us. Protect us my a#$#$@@^. Me thinks we have lost the plot. . .less by Brian on September 10 2009, 16:42 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

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