Thursday 25 March 2004

This site will be updated on 1 April  2004 at 17:30

Business - Sakenuus

• Swede gee Boland hand
• Paarlites honoured by world press
• Who wants to try and lie?

Swede gee Boland hand

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'n AFVAARDIGING vanaf die Kalmar Streeksraad in die suide van Swede het onlangs die Boland besoek om bande te versterk tussen Kalmar en die Boland Distriksmunisipaliteit en om 'n same- werkingsooreenkoms aan te gaan.

Die doel van die besoek was veral om die ontwikkeling van 'n Akademie vir die opleiding van gemeenskapsontwikkelingswerkers by die Wolwekloof-vakansieoord, naby Ceres, te ondersoek.

Die Sweedse betrokkenheid by die projek sal onder meer klem lê op finansiële bystand om infrastruktuur te ontwikkel, asook tegniese en

OOREENKOMS. Clarence Johnson (regs), burgemeester van die Boland-distrik, skud hand met Anders Akesson, burgemeester van die Kalmar Streeksraad in Swede, na die ondertekening van die ooreenkoms vir ontwikkelingshulp.

professionele ondersteuning en leiding met betrekking tot die programimplementering.

Daar sal ook voortaan saamgewerk word wat betref ekonomiese sake, toerisme, opleiding, tegnologie, gesondheid en veranderingsbestuur.

Volgens die Burgemeester van die Boland Distrik, Clarence Johnson, is Boland slegs die tweede munisipaliteit in die land wat bande met Swede het.

Hy het hulle geloof vir hul ontwikkelingswerk in Suid-Afrika in die verlede.

Volgens Johnson sal die goeie verhoudinge tussen die twee Rade in die toekoms voortgesit word en sal die Boland baie daarby baat

TWO Paarlites were among those honoured at the conclusion of the 10th World Congress of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists held for the first time in Africa, from March 12 to 19 this year.

The congress covered a wide range of visits to farms and agricultural institutions throughout South Africa.

More than 86 delegates from Europe, the Americas, the Scandinavian countries, Japan and Russia participated.

Reg Weiss of Paarl, Vice-President (Africa) of the IFAJ, was among the South African committee members honoured with a gold medal.

Charles Munro, President of the Australian Guild, also presented him with a small vial of red sand from the sacred aborigine lands at Ayer's Rock, "the beating red heart of Australia", as a token of appreciation for what South Africa is doing for its own indigenous peoples.

Hans Heinrich Matthiesen of Germany, outgoing President of the IFAJ and television and radio personality, also presented a silver medal to Eunice Kotze of "Definitely Different", Paarl.

Kotze, formerly in charge of special functions at the KWV, was praised for her outstanding organisation of the southern leg of the conference, described as the crowning glory of one of the best world congresses ever held by the IFAJ.

Other recipients of gold medals included Charl van Rooyen (Transvaal Editor and South African Chairman), Danie Smith (Publisher) and Hugo Lochner (Article Editor), all of Landbouweekblad.

The IFAJ, which celebrates its jubilee (50th anniversary) in Switzerland next year, has a world-wide membership of 5 000 journalists in some 26 countries. Madagascar, the latest member, was admitted at the AGM on March 14 this year.

Many African countries were anxious to attend this year's conference, but unfortunately could not raise sponsorships for travel and registration.

A proposal by Weiss that a special fund be established from which delegates from poorer countries could be sponsored on merit was well received by the IFAJ's executive.

Matthiesen paid tribute to the immense strides made by South Africa since independence, but expressed concern at State censorship and persecution of journalists elsewhere in Africa.

"Conflicts and catastrophes are not made by the Press. Leaders in many African countries are responsible for them. Africa's image in the Western world has problems, since Africa produces so much negative news.

"South Africa, fortunately, is no longer part of that image and South Africa's Press is now the freest on the Black Continent."

In spite of a global recession, South Africa was the most successful emerging economy in the Southern Hemisphere. The land reform programme, he believed, would produce another miracle in this "Cape of Good Results".

WHO stole the money? Who is taking the stock? Who is lying to whom?

Petty theft and not-so-petty theft is part and parcel of the corporate environment. In many cases bosses don't want to publicise their losses or involve the police.

So, what to do about in-house crimes? In comes Gary Hewitt, a qualified polygraphist (forensic psychophysiologist).

He received his training from the Academy for Scientific Investigative Training in Philadelphia, USA.

Hewitt, who works in Paarl on a regular base, is a member of the American Polygraph Association and an active member of the Criminological Society of South Africa.

The popular name for the polygraph is "lie detector", but Hewitt says this is very misleading.

"Actually there is no such thing as a 'lie detector'.

"As a stethoscope cannot diagnose a medical disorder, but only a physician can, the same applies to the polygraph.

"The polygraph only records and measures physiological changes. To evaluate these changes involves much specialised care."

Hewitt demonstrated the polygraph on Paarl Post volunteer Eunice Consul.

Giggling nervously, she was connected to the polygraph by sensors on her body and fingers.

Hewitt, monitoring her responses on a computer screen, pointed out the sharp reaction in the graphics.

He started asking her questions like "Is today Thursday" and "Do you work at Paarl Post?"

These questions serve as stimuli and result in physiological reaction, a condition manifested by the human body.

Hewitt then went on to ask Eunice if she was completely at ease. Laughing, she said "yes", but from the responses on the monitor, the opposite was clear.

"You can't lie to the polygraph," explained Hewitt.

"When someone is asked a question about some wrongful conduct which he has in fact committed, that question is then perceived as a threat to that person's wellbeing. 

"The body reacts to the threat, regardless of whether the threat is physiological or psychological. 

"Among these changes, which are involuntary and beyond conscious control, are changes in blood pressure, pulse rate, respiration and electrodernal activity."

Disconnected from the polygraph, Eunice remarked: "I'd rather tell the truth than try to lie to that machine!"

Many people are sceptical about the accuracy of polygraph tests, but according to Hewitt this is directly proportional to the skill of the examiner administering the tests. 

"The examiner must make judgments at all stages of the test, and these judgments determine whether the test is reliable."

He said the latest research indicated an average validity of 98 percent.

Voluntary consent

Hewitt emphasised that no-one can be compelled to undergo a polygraph examination unless contracted as such.

"A person must give voluntary consent in writing."

According to him the truthful are more than willing to submit to the examination. 

"The deceptive normally feel they are the exception to the rule and can beat the polygraph. Mainly for these reasons, very few people actually refuse to submit to a polygraph examination."

Hewitt adds that science indicates it is not true that nervousness, psychopathic mendacity, rationalisation or drugs are likely to contribute to an erroneous diagnosis, since the technique used today is equipped to combat these factors.

Investigate

Generally employers will use the polygraph to investigate specific incidents such as where employees had access to the property which is the subject of the investigation or if there is a reasonable suspicion that the employee was involved in the incident.

"In employment context, the polygraph can also be used for pre-employment applicant and periodic employee screenings.

Hewitt can be contacted at tel 946-2608, fax 946-2609 or polygraph@telkomsa.net.

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