From 34% to 10%? Why the Real Unemployment Question Is About Visibility, Not Just Stats

July 25, 2025 Melanie Hawken

South Africa is having something of a statistical identity crisis. Recently, Capitec CEO Gerrie Fourie questioned the country’s official unemployment rate of 32.9%, suggesting it might be closer to 10% if we included the informal sector – gig workers, informal traders, and side hustlers. Minister Parks Tau echoed the sentiment. Stats SA, however, held firm. While that debate sparks headlines, it may be missing the bigger picture. The real issue? We’re still not connecting the right people to the right jobs – fast enough or far enough. “Arguing whether unemployment is 34% or 10% misses the point,” says Sasha Knott, Global CEO of Job Crystal. “The real debate should be: how do we reduce unemployment? If 24% of our workforce is in the informal sector, why aren’t we building tools to help those businesses grow and hire more?”

The power of social media screening in high-level recruitment

July 18, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Background — A leading recruiter in South Africa was tasked with filling a critical vacancy for a senior-level IT developer at a major fintech firm. The position had remained open for months due to a significant shortage of highly skilled IT professionals in the country. Pressure was mounting to secure a candidate with the right blend of expertise, leadership, and innovation.

Elizabeth Karamagi, Linda Chawe, and Sophia Mrimi, three women founders building a specialist HR consulting business in Tanzania

June 28, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Elizabeth Karamagi, Sophia Mrimi and Linda Chawe

Tabono Consult Ltd was established in 2020 in Tanzania to assist companies manage the disruptions from the COVID-19 Pandemic where staff had to be repurposed and other adjustments made in order for those businesses to stay afloat. It is a company driven by women founders Elizabeth Karamagi, Linda Chawe, and Sophia Mrimi, supported by a workforce of 18 people, and today is thriving.

Are you using a reliable integrity tool for your hiring process?

May 1, 2025 Melanie Hawken

In today's competitive job market, having the right tools for employee screening is essential. One tool gaining popularity in South Africa is the integrity test offered by iFacts, the official provider of these assessments from INTEG. These tests focus on reliability, validity, and fairness, ensuring organisations can effectively evaluate potential employees.

World Backup Day: Who Makes Decisions Regarding Your Data Protection and Organisational Integrity?

April 13, 2025 Melanie Hawken

World Backup Day, observed on the 31st of March, reminded businesses globally, to protect their data from theft, loss or corruption and focuses on how essential it is that data protections are as comprehensive as possible.

Does your employee screening policy address cyber crime risks in your organisation?

April 5, 2025 Melanie Hawken

As cybercrime continues to surge in South Africa, the importance of effective employee screening to address this risk is paramount.

In 2024 alone, Interpol reported over 3,300 global cybercrime incidents affecting governments, banks, and the general public each week, reflecting a growing threat landscape. With cyber threats increasingly targeting organisations across South Africa, businesses must prioritise comprehensive screening processes to safeguard against potential breaches stemming from internal and external sources.

Do no-experience-required jobs need background checks?

February 25, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Queue of thousands shows desperation at South Africa job crisis. What does desperation cost our country? Many in our country are really struggling but desperate times create desperate measures. Don’t skip your processes in place to address risk. Regardless of how desperate a person may be, make sure you verify details on the job application thoroughly. Every time.

Ronel and Dr Marli Jooste, two impact-driven South African entrepreneurs on a mission to guide others on their journey toward holistic wellbeing

February 16, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Ronel Jooste and Dr Marli Jooste, co-founders, PhysEQFiT Wellness & Leadership Development (South Africa)

Ronel and Dr Marli Jooste, two sisters and co-founders of PhysEQFiT Wellness & Leadership Development, a business focused on Transforming People. Transforming Workplaces, and Transforming Leaders. The name, PhysEQFiT, implies the importance of overall wellbeing, including Phys = physical wellbeing (health, fitness, nutrition, brain health, stress management, burnout), EQ = emotional wellbeing (personal mastery and growth, whole-brain thinking, neurocoaching, mental health, team dynamics, mediation etc, Fi = financial wellbeing, and FiT = all these aspects need to be in balance to enhance your overall performance, leadership capacity, wellbeing and lifestyle. The business was founded in 2015 and employs 5 people.

Can South African HR leaders stop white-collar crime in their organizations?

February 13, 2025 Melanie Hawken

South Africa is grappling with a significant surge in white-collar crime, underscoring the urgent need for robust employee screening practices. The recently released second-quarter crime statistics for July to September 2024 revealed an 18.5% spike in commercial crime incidents compared to the same period in 2023. This alarming increase, from 30,630 to 36,300 cases, highlights the highest surge recorded this year.

Skills over degrees: Redefining job qualifications in South Africa

February 8, 2025 Melanie Hawken

In today’s evolving job market, a university degree is no longer the only pathway to success in South Africa. Increasingly, employers are valuing practical skills and hands-on expertise over formal qualifications, opening doors for job seekers who may not have had the opportunity to pursue traditional higher education.

The importance of the candidate experience during employee screening in South Africa

February 1, 2025 Melanie Hawken

In today’s competitive job market, where talent is often scarce and companies must act quickly to secure top candidates, the candidate experience during the hiring process has become a crucial element in the overall success of recruitment strategies.

Strengthening Employee Screening in South Africa: Key Observations from 2024

January 5, 2025 Melanie Hawken

The latest Employers Background Screening Report sheds light on the rising challenges and trends in employee screening internationally. With the influx of fraudulent activities and integrity-related challenges, employers are placing greater emphasis on robust verification measures.

Screen your house and pet sitters

December 6, 2024 Melanie Hawken

The holiday season is coming up and it’s time to start thinking about house sitters and pet sitters. These people will have unsupervised access to your home and your pets for the duration of your holiday. Many things could happen in a couple of days you’re away.

The Power of Integration: Aligning Passion and Purpose in Entrepreneurship

November 23, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Embracing who we truly are unlocks our true potential. As women entrepreneurs, we often face immense pressure to fit into certain molds—to appear a specific way, to act within socially accepted boundaries, and to pursue goals that align with what’s considered appropriate for us. We’re encouraged to be successful, but only in ways that fit society’s expectations. The truth is, when we bring our whole, authentic selves to our businesses—beyond those imposed limits—we can create opportunities not just for growth but for building something deeply aligned with who we are and the impact we want to make in the world.

From CEO to Psychologist: Managing Team Dynamics in High-Stakes Environments

November 8, 2024 Melanie Hawken

As a founder or leader, you quickly realize that the role extends far beyond setting strategy or managing operations. It’s fundamentally about leading people—understanding their motivations, managing team dynamics, navigating conflicts, and fostering a supportive, productive environment. Founders and CEOs often take on the role of “chief psychologist” in their organizations, responsible for optimizing team performance and maintaining the mental and emotional well-being of their employees. This becomes even more crucial in fast-paced environments, where high stakes and constant challenges amplify stress and emotional responses.

Could Those End of Year Profits Cost You More Than You Thought?

November 3, 2024 Melanie Hawken

The Festive Season is coming up and it’s time to consider the casual staff you intend to hire for the holiday rush. Casual staff are a necessity to help when business picks up in various seasonal industries. However, like full-time staff members, casual staff also need to be screened and vetted prior to employment, even in a short-term capacity.

When Is the Best Time to Screen Your Employees?

October 21, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Many companies have effective pre-employment screening policies, but the need for screening doesn’t end after hiring. Regular rescreening of existing employees at all levels is essential to protect the company from unforeseen issues and to ensure preparedness.

Will It Take a Tragedy Before You Ensure Your Suppliers Or Staff Are Industry Compliant?

October 12, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Earlier this year, on 6 May, we all listened in horror as radio stations across the country let us know about a building that had collapsed and 81 people were stuck in the rubble. Awful updates were constantly received with people being unaccounted for, being rushed to hospital in severe condition, or dying. There were allegations that the owner of the building wished to add a storey to the building that the foundations were not built for and that the construction crew allowed and encouraged the cleaning ladies to mix cement for use in the multi-storey building.

Why Wait to Dismiss Staff For Employee Fraud When An Effective Employee Screening Policy Can Save Millions?

October 6, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Employee fraud, previously called Insider fraud refers to when an employee of your company lies or steals from the company, this could refer to stealing money, maliciously taking access to company assets, or even workplace recognition. Any kind of fraud can negatively affect a company, but employee fraud is becoming a bigger concern than it has been in the past.

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