Related Articles
Top Stories
May 25 2012 13:58
The costs of the first phase of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project have increased significantly to almost R90bn, according to a report.
May 24 2012 17:31
The Reserve Bank will maintain current interest rates, and a considerable reduction in the local petrol price is anticipated, says governor Gill Marcus.
May 25 2012 11:36
The JSE has identified and stopped "incorrect" trades from one of its members, and will reverse the trades and lower the session's total value after the close.
Johannesburg - Crime affects more than eight out of 10 businesses in South Africa, a survey by Grant Thornton revealed on Wednesday.
"Eighty-four percent of medium to large privately held businesses in South Africa report that they, their staff or families of staff have been affected by personal contact crime over the past 12 months," according to Grant Thornton's 2007, International Business Report, now in its fifth year.
This led to increased security costs, lower productivity and motivation.
Crimes such as housebreaking, hijacking, violent crime or road rage had affected nearly every one of the 200 businesses surveyed. The figures excluded white and blue collar crimes.
Of those businesses affected by crime, 88% reported having incurred increased costs for security, 65% reported decreased staff productivity and motivation and 41% reported a decrease in staff creativity, ingenuity and resourcefulness.
The report also indicated that while overall optimism amongst South African privately-held businesses was considerably lower than in previous years, expectations for growth in areas such as turnover, profitability and employment were higher than ever before.
This anomaly was credited to increased crime and political uncertainty over the presidential succession.
National chairperson of Grant Thornton, Leonard Brehm, said local businesses had to be able to work in a safe environment if the country was to meet its growth targets.
"This can only be achieved through strong and sustained action by government security agencies at all levels, supported by a culture of community participation in assisting with the detection and control of crime."