Sorry, Fourpaddles I didn't see your postings until now.
As it happens, I was at the CAA today, and had lunch with an old friend in the FCL department. He confirmed that any people proffering SA licences issued within the last six years or so are scruitinised very carefully and required to independently verify their employment and hours logged.
That said, as someone said on another thread, if you want to convert an SA licence to a JAA one, it will cost you the best part of R250,000!!