Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
15 December 2023 | 11.02 a.m CAT
2-min read

Picture: BusinessTech

In a recent interview with Radio Islam International, Chad Thomas, CEO of IRS Forensic Investigations, discussed the state of crime in South Africa, outlining the growth of organised crime, financial-related fraud, and the challenges faced by law enforcement.

Thomas noted that while global cybercrime is increasing, South Africa faces a unique challenge with a surge in violent crime. He noted that financial-related cybercrime is on the rise, accounting for a significant portion of reported crime both in South Africa and worldwide.

Thomas underscored the growing threat posed by artificial intelligence in the realm of crime. “And now, of course, we have artificial intelligence, and it wouldn’t come as any surprise that AI-facilitated fraud techniques are bringing a new front in this battle…making it easier for criminals to commit fraud,” Thomas said. Thomas elaborated on how criminals exploit AI advancements, citing examples like AI voice-generation platforms creating voicemail messages and the use of deepfake videos to impersonate individuals in interactions with financial institutions or creditors.

Thomas expressed concern about the escalating violence in South Africa due to turf wars among organised crime syndicates. He highlighted the role of puppet masters behind illegal mining groups, emphasising their control over illicit activities and the challenges in introducing illegally mined gold into the mainstream market.

“Organized crime is something we really need to look out for, and they use murder for hire as a tool. South Africans are being caught in the middle of all of this.”

Discussing law enforcement challenges, Thomas pointed out the shortage of detectives, the understaffing of the Hawks because of budget cuts, and budget constraints within the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). He emphasised that arrests alone do not lead to prosecutions and cited the loss of 8 000 veteran detectives without a succession plan as a significant setback.

“We have a shortage of detectives… If we don’t have enough detectives to investigate those cases, those same suspects are going to be back out on the street the next day…the exact same thing is playing out with prosecutors. We don’t have enough prosecutors. We don’t have enough court days. We don’t have enough court rooms. And we don’t have enough presiding officers,” Thomas noted.

Thomas discussed the growth of the private security industry in South Africa, with over 2,5 million registered security officers, surpassing the combined number of police, military, and correctional services personnel. He underscored the need for a more inclusive security model that extends to all communities, addressing the disparity between affluent areas and townships.

“Having such a huge security industry can only benefit the community, but it has to be all communities.”

Listen to the full interview on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Habib.