Home South African We are clamping down on Covid-19 corruption, says labour minister

We are clamping down on Covid-19 corruption, says labour minister

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Auditor-General Kimi Makwetu identified in his report that millions of rand had been siphoned from the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) following irregular payments.

Minister of Employment and Labour Thulas Nxesi. Picture: Jacques Naude / African News Agency(ANA)

MINISTER of Employment and Labour Thulas Nxesi says they are clamping down on Covid-19 corruption in his departments following the theft of millions of rand this year.

This came after the Auditor-General Kimi Makwetu identified in his report that millions had been siphoned from the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) following irregular payments.

In his briefing to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Tuesday, Nxesi said his departments has roped in the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to find those who have stolen from it.

He said they have managed to recoup R3.4 billion.

Nxesi told the NCOP that from investigations undertaken they have instituted 75 criminal cases against people involved in corruption.

As a result, 11 people were arrested and 10 have already appeared in court.

The UIF was said to have paid out over R43bn since the Covid-19 pandemic hit the country.

MPs raised concern that the reason there has been corruption and looting was due to lack of tight security measures in the system.

Nxesi said they were improving the system and internal controls to prevent the theft.

“From the lessons, which were learnt in the process, it’s clear that we need to upgrade our system,“ said Nxesi.

He said the director-general in the department has started to upgrade and put tight measures on the UIF and Compensation Fund systems.

Nxesi added that they were paying all the workers who have applied after they removed those who were defrauding the system.

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