SOUTH AFRICA - LYING ON YOUR CV CAN GET YOU LOCKED UP FOR AS LONG AS 5 YEARS

Unemployment in South Africa is high, but matriculants and graduates still enter a competitive job market, and some are tempted to pad their CVs to get ahead. Until now, if a job seeker has lied on their CV they could get fired, but not jailed or fined.

The National Qualifications Framework Amendment Act 12 of 2019 was updated this week though, and now claiming you have a qualification you don't actually have can land you in jail.

Beyond outright misrepresenting yourself on your CV or in a job application, even claiming, on social media, to have a qualification you haven't actually earned can get you locked up for as long as five years.

What's a lie?
The Act reads:

32B. (1) A person is guilty of an offence if the person—

(a) makes or causes to be made a false entry in the national learners’ records database or the misrepresented or fraudulent register;

(b) is a party to the falsification and dissemination or publication of a qualification or part-qualification of any person or the records of the national learners’ records database or the misrepresented or fraudulent register; or

(c) with a fraudulent purpose, knowingly provided false or misleading information in any circumstances in which this Act requires the person to provide information or give notice to another person.

In short, if you say you have a qualification or part of a qualification, that you don't have, or help a friend or colleague to create a fraudulent CV, or misrepresent your qualifications in any way, you're breaking the law.

And, importantly:

(6) Any person convicted of an offence in terms of this Act, is liable, in the case of a contravention of sections 32B(1), 32B(2), 32B(3) or 32B(4) to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years, or to both a fine and such imprisonment.

Additionally, anyone can report you for this criminal offence. Which means that parents, friends, family, educators and employers who know you're fibbing can report your deceit.

High-profile fibbers
According to Careers24, many high-profile South African's have been caught in a lie, with severe consequences to their careers.

See the list below:

1. SABC Chief Operating Officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng, reportedly lied about having a matric qualification

2. “Dr” Daniel Mtimkulu, Chief Engineer at the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa), reportedly lied about his qualifications.

3. Pallo Jordan, former Minister of Arts and Culture has already admitted that he fabricated his degrees.

4. Ellen Tshabalala, former Chairperson of the SABC never completed her BComm degree.

5. SA Airways board Chairperson, Dudu Myeni admitted to not having her Bachelors degree.

6. South Africa's ambassador to Japan, Mohau Pheko, has admitted to lying about having a doctorate.

It's hard enough building a solid career out of school, don't kick start your career with a stint in jail. It's just not worth it.

via - PARENT24