The Molopo Magistrates' Court postponed the case against six suspects arrested in connection with fraudulent payments made at the Department of Employment and Labour to yesterday, 14 June 2023, for a formal bail application.
Phure Daniel Matshogo (42), Zakaria Modise Mokgobi (42), Thato Moiloa (26), Motlapele Otto (58), Theophilus Mpheng (39), Tebogo Joseph Mosito (36) and Vusi Makhubo (41), appeared in court on 220 counts ranging from theft, fraud, and money laundering, amounting to over R2 million. The eighth suspect is still at large, and the Hawks are investigating his whereabouts.
A report by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation and the Priority Crime Specialised Investigation unit revealed that the eight were investigated for alleged fraudulent claims from the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF).
The report further indicates that two suspects, former Department of Employment and Labour employees in the North West Provincial Government at the Mahikeng and Klerksdorp offices, and four recruiting agents allegedly recruited unemployed individuals between 2019 and 2020.
According to Mamothame, those individuals were allegedly recruited under various false pretences. Some of the claimants were reportedly informed that they were being assisted to lodge claims from the Drought Relief Fund; while others were allegedly claiming money from UIF, others were reportedly told that they would be employed at the South African Revenue Services, while others were reportedly informed that they would be employed at Nomalalemba Project and other projects.
The claimants were allegedly each given R50 to open bank accounts; however, bank cards were kept by the suspects. In addition, the claimants were reportedly made to complete UIF claim forms masquerading as former employees of the Impala Platinum mine and Sibanye Ashanti Gold mine.
Subsequently, the suspects allegedly processed their claims, resulting in the Department of Employment and Labour suffering a loss of over R2-million. The suspects will make their first appearance before Mahikeng District Court on 12 June 2023, where they will be facing charges of fraud, money laundering and theft.
The Provincial Head for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in North West, Major General Patrick Mbotho, and the Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, lauded the investigation team for the arrest and court appearance of the suspects. They hope for a conviction when the matter is transferred to the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court for trial.
