The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), an entity of the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL), has welcomed the arrests of six suspects from the North West province who allegedly defrauded the fund of R2-million.

The suspects, including two former employees of the DEL, were apprehended by the police’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, or Hawks, on June 10.

According to a preliminary investigation, the suspects operated a syndicate that acted as a recruitment agency that recruited unemployed persons in the province for among other things, job opportunities.

The unsuspecting job applicants were then made to complete UIF claim forms as former employees of Impala Platinum Mine, as well as Anglo Gold Ashanti for unemployment benefits.

Thereafter the suspects had the claims processed, resulting in the UIF being defrauded of over R2-million.

The suspects were due to appear in the Mahikeng District Court on June 12, where they face charges of fraud, money laundering and theft.

UIF Commissioner Teboho Maruping has welcomed the arrests and has praised the investigators for their relentless efforts to bring an end to fraud and corruption at the UIF.

“It would seem that criminals think the UIF is an easy target for fraud and corruption, when we are actually not. Our Risk and Anti-Fraud Unit will continue to monitor Labour Centres and in so doing work with law enforcement agencies to decisively deal with fraud and corruption committed by members of the public and government officials who enables it.

“Until the day arrives when the criminality towards the UIF stops, we will continue to catch and send perpetrators to prison, and we will maintain our call to the National Prosecuting Authority to propose harsh sentences to the courts as a means of deterrence,” Maruping emphasises.

Internal UIF investigations have led to a number of dismissals and suspensions of officials from the Mahikeng and Klerksdorp Labour Centres, with some disciplinary matters still ongoing.