Accounting, Auditing, Taxation, Forensic Investigations & Security Services
Established in 1998
Business Profile
We strive to provide professional innovative and cost- effective governance solutions to our clients.
Vision
The eradication of fraud and corruption through service excellence.
Mission
A. Provide our clients with a superior ethical service by understanding their needs.
B. Set a trend of quality in customer service.
C. Develop new tools and techniques to combat fraud and corruption more effective.
D. Invest in the youth of South Africa to build an effective and efficient future workforce
MB CONSULTANTS is the company to keep you protected from white-collar & cyber crime.
It has become vital for any business to have, as one of its key strengths, the ability to detect any breaches in their corporate governance structures and systems including any corrupt activities threatening the sustainability of the company.
To detect and act upon the available information will enable management to implement strategies and corrective actions timely. This will assist private and public organisations to be proactive in detecting and preventing possible irregular activities within the business environment of South Africa currently being targeted by professional fraudsters.
Introduction
Commercial crime is in the order of the day within Private and Public sectors and globally. Fraud, corruption and irregular activities are a reality threatening the sustainability of every organisation, irrespective of the industry operating within. The Government of South Africa invested and approved world class legislation to prevent irregular activities and prosecute white collar criminals.
White collar crime needs to be managed and prevented through well thought through governance structures which include policies, action plans and ethical practices, in line with the legislative framework as such irregularities can have a devastating impact on business and the image of both the organisation and South Africa at large.
Currently there are concerns around the globe with regards to the enhancement of corporate governance practices, including embedded ethical behaviour and prevention of corrupt activities. The business communities have been shaken by corporate scandals highlighting the negative impacts of ineffective corporate governance processes.
There is a desire within the business community to put in place sophisticated proactive measures, in an effort to stem the tide of corruption and poor business practices. Although as these mechanisms and measures are important, they cannot compensate for a poor governance culture within the public and private sector.
Despite efforts to stamp out various forms of fraud and corruption through legislation and the establishment of various bodies, it appears that commercial crime is increasing in frequency and severity. This has a devastating effect on the prevailing economic, political and social fabric within South Africa and the world.
The use of external service providers enhances objectivity and independence in a process loaded with emotions and negative perceptions.
About Us
MB Consultants is a leading provider of specialist consulting services in governance, risk, compliance, fraud prevention, fraud detection and information technology. Through proven methodologies and investigative techniques, underpinned by robust information technologies, the company provides innovative and cost-effective governance solutions.
MB Consultants is an empowered company, 100% owned, managed and staffed by people representative of the full spectrum, and constantly works towards demonstrating a fully integrated staff. The focus of the company is very much on creating an integrative whole, free of cultural boundaries, through the subtle psychological change it brings about in the historical and traditional business attitudes and mind-sets. Our company values its people; the dignity of the individual within the workforce, irrespective of socio-economic background. The company believes in investing in our youth as the next generation to lead our country with knowledge, skills and the necessary experience.
MB Consultants focuses on consulting services relating to proactive and reactive fraud prevention services to embed a culture of ethics and proper governance structures, to manage risks business face before they materialise. There is a desire within government and the business community to stem the tide of corruption and poor business and governance practices. We further assist corporations and companies to assess the information systems to enhance security and protect the organisation from cybercrime and/or risks facing an organisation.
MB Consultants has vast experience through being involved in major and complex forensic and consulting projects over the past few years covering inter alia the organisations both within the public and private sector.
Our ability through our proven methodologies and techniques (including the use of information technology tools) makes us the ideal partner to conduct a governance and forensic assessment on the possible breach of governance practices within an organisation.
We strive to provide professional innovative and cost effective governance solutions to our clients. In assessing the governance risks facing organisations, a proactive and reactive approach should be implemented to address any breach/es and prevent recurrence.
MB Consultants has developed a reputation in both the private and public sector to successfully uncover and resolve corrupt activities and to bring the perpetrators to account.
We have invested in resources with the necessary skills and experience to provide a value added service to all our clients. We have established a network enabling us to provide a one-stop service to all our clients.
Major Role Players
MANAGING DIRECTOR: MANOJ BALKARAN
Associate Member: Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE)
The main role player in MB Consultants is Manoj Balkaran. He has been involved in the industry since 1984 and has personally overseen numerous investigations. He has vast
experience individually in combating white collar crime and is well respected and knowledgeable in the field of corporate governance, forensic investigations; forensic and internal auditing; and fraud prevention and detection strategies.
Manoj Balkaran is the Managing Director of MB Consultants and responsible for the management of the business and client relationships. He is well known in the industry due to his promoting governance structures and practices. This experience enables him to not only successfully complete the investigation but to rectify the control environment to prevent recurrence of the event.
Manoj has worked extensively throughout South Africa in combating white collar crime. He analyses the combating, prevention and detection of white collar crime from a strategic point of view. He will assist and enable management to look at the epidemic from a strategic point of view.
Manoj Balkaran is also responsible for Business Development and Governance. He has 37 years of accounting and management experience. Has expertise in accounting systems development, fiscal management, supply chain management, enterprise risk management and financial reporting. He has a proven track record in developing and implementing financial and operational controls that improve compliance of organisations. Also has been responsible for three (3) unqualified MFMA audits.
Manoj started his career at Marwick Gould & Ash, CA (SA) in Pietermaritzburg in 1994. He moved to the City Engineers Department (Finance: City of Pietermaritzburg) in 1998. He joined Aiken & Peat in 1999 where he worked as an Audit Senior for the local municipality. He then moved to RMS Transport Services in Pietermaritzburg for three years as aManagement Accountant.
Manoj then opened his consulting business in 1998 to provide expertise in the auditing, forensic and management accounting sectors for corporate companies and municipalities.
DATA RISK ANALYST: ADHEESH BALKARAN
Adheesh Balkaran is responsible for Data Risk Analysis & Security Services. He is a Senior Manager also responsible for Special Investigations. He specialized during the past few years in forensic investigations, due diligence and governance reviews, probity services and performance auditing.
Adheesh as a Data Risk Analyst is responsible for:
– Site inspections, reporting and troubleshooting.
– Transitioning to Integrated Solutions.
– Consulting management and merchants on current and future challenges and providing feasible solutions.
– Managing external contractors for installations, supplying, fitting or maintaining supporting products and services in line with SLA.
– Device and software testing and reporting.
– Training of Merchant’s staff on products, services and procedures.
– Management of company vehicle(s), allocated equipment, and emergency stock.
– Monitoring new and existing merchant sites, ensuring PCI compliance and providing support within SLA.
– Installation and replacement of faulty equipment, reporting of failed policies and procedures.
OUR SPECIALISED SERVICE OFFERING
Through our proven methodologies and investigative techniques (including the use of
information technology tools) we ensure that governance reviews, cases investigated and
evidence collected are within the legislative and regulatory frameworks ensuring the
achievement of desired results, be it enhancement of governance structures/systems,
disciplinary dispute resolution, criminal prosecution and/or civil recovery.
We strive to provide professional innovative and cost- effective governance solutions to our
clients. In assessing the governance risks facing organisations, a proactive and reactive
approach should be implemented to address any breach/es and prevent recurrence.
MB Consultants is particularly well qualified to assist in Governance, Risk and Compliance
projects, whether it is during the assessment or the remedial phase for several key reasons:
The company offers years of experience in the governance, risk, compliance, proactive
prevention and data analysis field with highly experienced specialists.
The company’s leadership in the field of governance and information protection, data analysis
and fraud prevention assures you of our ability to assign qualified, knowledgeable, and industry
respected personnel, many of whom have performed engagements within the public and private
sector in South Africa alike.
MB Consultant’s understanding and capabilities in the field of Information Security
Management and Control, data analysis and fraud prevention provides a unique ability to
develop solutions that merge business and technical interests.
The company’s comprehensive collection of information technology governance, security
management intellectual capital, data analysis and fraud prevention practical understanding of
the challenges faced by organisations wishing to sustainably address the risks associated with
governance and to secure their information assets, and extensive field experience in helping
our clients solve these challenges, constitute a set of resources invaluable for any engagement.
The company invests in information technology tools and developed same to enhance the
investigation process to provide a more cost effective solution to our clients.
In dealing with breaches of corporate governance there must be an identification process and
subsequent action which takes into account the interplay between reactive and proactive
solutions. Our service offering is thus based on preventative and reactive services
Proactive Solutions
Proactive solutions assist clients to embed a positive governance culture within their
organisation. Proactive strategies are implemented to prevent and minimise fraud and
corruption from occurring. Our services include:
– Governance reviews and audits.
– Risk and transactional data analysis (including fraud risk analysis).
– Behavioural assessments.
– Policies and procedures i.e. Anti-corruption/security/operational policies.
– Fraud prevention and detection plans.
Reactive Solutions
Reactive solutions assist clients to successfully deal with breaches in governance processes
which have occurred within their organisation. Our services include:
– Forensic audits/special investigations.
– Disciplinary processes.
– Civil proceedings.
– Criminal prosecution.
Preventative Services
Offering our clients preventative solutions reduce the cost to be invested due to governance
breaches. Our services include:
– Fraud Risk Assessment.
– Fraud awareness training.
– Fraud prevention plans (including inter alia fraud/commercial crime and fraud response plan).
– Employee lifestyle auditing.
– Supplier and employee vetting.
– Data mining to identify fraudulent behaviour, to detect and prevent exploitation.
– Background researches on debtors, suppliers, external contractors and clients.
– Polygraph services.
– Fingerprint analysis.
Investigative Services
– Commercial crime investigations (i.e. fraud, theft, corruption etc.)
– Data mining focusing investigations. and improve turnaround time of the investigation.
– Background and lifestyle audits.
– Insurance audits/ investigations.
We focus on proactive methods i.e. transactional data analysis to prevent and detect governance
breaches timely. This enables our investigators/auditors/consultants to focus the projects on
areas of concern to prevent scope creep and safe costs for our clients. The methodology entails:
– Prevention.
– Detection – TDA.
– Technology Based.
– Identification.
– Preliminary – document discovery.
– Resource Based.
– Complete Value Chain – Technology Systems People Processes.
– Value for our clients.
– Investigation/audit.
– Fieldwork – evidence, consultation.
– Resource and Technology Based.
– Remediation – control environment, disciplinary, criminal, systems.
– Consultation Based – client.
– Recovery – civil, Asset Forfeit Unit.
– Consultation based – SAPS / Legal.
Other Services
In today’s ever changing environment and competitive business environment it is important to be able to render holistic and comprehensive services. Over the last few years we have
strengthened our skills base in various other disciplines to ensure that we have the right skills mix to effectively render the following additional services:
– Search engines.
– Probity services.
– Performance auditing.
– Corporate governance reviews.
– Vendor Due diligence reviews.
– Audit of performance information.
VALUE PROPOSITION TO OUR CLIENTS
We offer our clients the following value proposition based on our skills and experience:
Value for money solutions to prevent losses due to exploitation;
Intellectual capital to deploy experts in major prevention and detection projects and areas of
concern;
Mechanism for supporting compliance and audit activities;
Assist management in obtaining a holistic view of the trends within business
Assist management to prevent losses and implement corrective measure to stop the bleeding;
Assist management in vetting suppliers and employees within the process of supply chain
management to prevent conflicts of interests;
Identify the Fraud Risks and materialisation thereof within business;
Range of partnerships to provide expert services from polygraph experts, handwriting services,
document analysis, computer and cell phone mirroring and forensic accountants;
Personalised service focusing on individual and unique needs;
Integrated approach to effectively deter fraud and corruption through a variety of disciplines,
whilst at the same time ensuring compliance with the regulatory framework to enhance
governance structures and systems.
DEVELOPMENT OF SKILLS
MB Consultants believes in the investment of our youth and the creation of opportunities and
jobs for the development and sustainability of our economy in South Africa. We will create
yearly positions to equip young, experienced graduates to live their dreams and to obtain
experience within the business world. This will enable South African youth to participate in
the development of our economy and to fight unemployment within South Africa.
Other Role Players
MANAGER – FIRE INVESTIGATIONS: CLYDE DEAN VAN NIEKERK
Clyde van Niekerk is a Fire Specialist responsible for Arson/Fire Investigations and Advisory
Services. He is a Senior Manager in the detection of fire causes; and the possibility of arson
being committed.
Clyde is a graduate and an accredited member of the Institute of Fire Engineers (SA) since 18
July 2008. He is also a qualified Assessor and Moderator in the Manufacturing, Engineering
& Related Services SETA (MERSETA) to Assess Assessments against the NQF Registered
Units Standards/Qualifications.
Clyde began his work career as follows:
– Ethekwini Municipality Fire Department from November 2008 to April 2009 as a
Firefighter, Leading Fire Fighter, Station Commander, and Acting Divisional Commander.
– Rural Metro Emergency Management Services from May 2009 to April 2011 as the Head
of Training (National and International Markets).
– Proverb Fire Management Solutions from May 2011 to February 2012 as the Director
Operations (Chief Fire Officer).
– G.P.S (Saipem) Algeria LNG Plant from March 2012 to March 2013 as the Deputy Fire
Chief.
– Hollard Insurance Company from April 2013 to December 2017 as the Risk Consultant.
– FRC Solution (Pty) Ltd from January 2018 to date as the Fire and Risk Consultant.
– Stiman Incorporated from January 2020 to date as a Fire and Risk Consultant on a
consulting basis for insurance claims.
– Clyde has several internal and external courses in fire risk and management obtained over
the last 15 (fifteen) years.
MANAGER – FORENSIC PSYCHO-PHYSIOLOGIST: THERESA GROBLER
Theresa Grobler is a Forensic Psycho-Physiologist (Polygraph Examiner) responsible for all
Polygraph Examinations and Interviews. She was involved in the South African Police Service
for 17 years as a specialized Fraud Investigator and qualified in her field in 2009 through the
American International Institute of Polygraph (CSIR).
Theresa is a member of the British and European Polygraph Association.
She has extensive knowledge in the field of Forensic Psycho Physiology and has in the past
seven years performed in excess of 1 500 Polygraph Examinations and Interviews.
Synopsis
A forensic cyber security investigator (also called a digital forensics or cyber forensics investigator) & Data Risk Analyst is a specialist who identifies, preserves, analyses, and presents digital evidence related to cyber incidents, crimes, or disputes.
Core Purpose: Their primary role is to determine what happened, how it happened, who was responsible, and to what extent, while ensuring the evidence is legally admissible.
Key Responsibilities:
Incident response & investigation:
– Investigate cyber incidents such as hacking, data breaches, ransomware attacks, fraud, insider threats, and intellectual property theft.
Digital evidence handling:
– Identify, collect, preserve, and analyse data from computers, servers, mobile devices, networks, and cloud platforms.
– Maintain a strict chain of custody to ensure evidence integrity.
Technical analysis:
– Analyse logs, malware, network traffic, file systems, emails, and user activity.
– Recover deleted, hidden, or encrypted data where possible.
Attribution & reconstruction:
– Reconstruct timelines of events.
– Attribute actions to specific users, devices, or threat actors.
Legal & regulatory support:
– Prepare forensic reports suitable for court, disciplinary hearings, or regulatory investigations.
– Provide expert testimony when required.
Advisory & prevention:
– Recommend remediation steps and controls to prevent recurrence.
– Assist organisations in improving security posture after incidents.
Typical Work Contexts:
– Law enforcement and government agencies.
– Private forensic consulting firms.
– Corporate security and compliance teams.
– Legal disputes (civil, criminal, labour, or regulatory cases).
Skills & Knowledge:
– Digital forensics tools (e.g. EnCase, FTK, X-Ways, Autopsy).
– Networking, operating systems, and cloud environments.
– Cybersecurity principles and threat intelligence.
– Legal procedures, evidentiary standards, and privacy laws.
– Strong documentation and communication skills.
Output
The end product of a forensic cyber security investigator is a defensible, unbiased account of digital events, supported by technical evidence that can withstand legal and technical scrutiny.
OUR COLLECTIVE EXPERTISE: PREVIOUS CLIENTS
It is important to have skilled and experienced people to provide a quality service in the highly specialised nature of investigation or related assignments in the forensic field. Our experience enables us to understand the problems facing our clients in the current economic and social environment in South Africa as well as implementing a workable and sustainable solution to deal with this epidemic affecting every business and/or organisation. The team has vast experience through being involved in forensic investigations over the past few years.
350+
Satisfied Clients
500M+
Quantified Value
Agon Consultants CC – Forensic investigations into fraudulent short-term insurance claims on behalf of Alexander Forbes/Momentum.
Bryte Insurance – Forensic investigations into fraudulent short-term insurance claims.
CCI – Forensic investigations into fraudulent short-term insurance claims on behalf of Momentum Insurance.
Considium – Forensic investigations into fraudulent short-term insurance claims on behalf of ABSA, Brolink, PPS, Renasa, Santam and SA Underwriting.
WPK&A Investigation – (on behalf of Anderson Insurance, SaXum Insurance, Centriq Insurance) – Forensic investigations into fraudulent short-term insurance claims.
Durban University of Technology – Forensic investigation into alleged irregularities in their Supply Chain Management practices.
Kwa Sani Municipality – Forensic investigation into alleged irregularities in the Rates tariffs and revenue collection. This included the provision of a GAPS analysis.
Deloitte – Ethics follow-ups on behalf of KZN Treasury for the following:
– Department of Royal Household
– Tourism KZN Authority
– Department of Transport
-Department of Community Safety and Liaison
Mobility Insurance – Forensic investigations into fraudulent short-term insurance claims.
Nexia-SAB&T (SASSA) – Forensic investigation into alleged irregularities in their social grants by Officials and beneficiaries.
BONITAS – Forensic investigation into alleged irregularities in their medical fees over-charged by Doctors and Pharmacies.
Ubank – Forensic investigation into alleged irregularities in credit card fraud.
Department of Health – Forensic investigation into ghost employees.
Tsalach Consulting Services – Forensic investigation into alleged irregularities into the Supply Chain Management practices Ugu District Municipality and Umgungundlovu District Municipality.
Fees
Fees are chargeable at an hourly rate based on complexity involved. We use the fees published annually by the office of the Auditor-General as a guideline to ensure that our rates are competitive.
