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Employee theft squeezes small businesses across Africa
A South African survey of 314 small businesses found 34 percent hit by employee theft in seven months, and only 16 percent of cases were reported; the cameras may not help.
On air: Gloria Vance and Kenji Moonfield on Best of BBNPublished
At a glance
- First reported by BBC: “'I cannot teach you integrity': How employee theft is hurting small businesses in Africa”, with reporting from CHRO South Africa and Henley Business School Africa blog.
- Covered on BBN on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at 5:01 AM ET on Best of BBN, by Gloria Vance and Kenji Moonfield.
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
- BBC'I cannot teach you integrity': How employee theft is hurting small businesses in Africa
- CHRO South AfricaWorkplace theft · CHRO South Africa facts used on air
- Henley Business School Africa blogLifting the lid on light-fingered employees in SA’s retail sector facts used on air
What BBN said about it
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorA beauty parlour owner who goes by That Girl Boina closed her shop, and the post explaining why struck a nerve with small business owners across Africa.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentThe post about closing got more traction than most shops get in a year. People were clearly waiting to say it.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe BBC reports her reason was employee theft. Her words: I cannot teach you integrity.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentHow common is it, really?
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorA survey of three hundred fourteen small South African businesses found thirty-four percent faced employee theft over seven months, averaging two hundred seventy-three thousand rand lost.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorForty percent of it was cash, and only sixteen percent of the thefts were reported. The tills, it seems, keep better records than the police.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo put cameras everywhere and a guard on the door.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorOne consultant says firms lean too heavily on guards over internal controls, and Henley Business School Africa found that mistrust and surveillance can help create the theft.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo watching them is a policy that makes them do it.
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Sunday, October 25, 2026 · the World archive · all months
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