Central SA
UIF fraud case heads to Bethlehem court─── 09:13 Wed, 09 Oct 2024
“Preliminary investigation by the Special Investigating Unit uncovered that the purported employees were not employed by Molake Management. The UIF was prejudiced and suffered an amount of R259,739.10.”
A Free State businessman is due to make another appearance in the Special Commercial Crimes Court in Bethlehem on 18 November 2024.
Tshediso Ernest Mthembu (42) appeared before the Makwane Magistrates Court on Monday (7/10) on allegations of fraud.
According to Warrant Officer Fikiswa Matoti, the allegations concerning the Covid-19 Temporary Employee Relief Scheme (TERS).
UIF sign. Photo: The Skills Portal
“It is alleged that during 2020, Mthembu, who was the director at Molake Management lodged an application for Covid-19 (TERS) with the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) on behalf of his purported employees and it was approved. The UIF made payments to the company in the amount of R259,739.10,” said Matoti.
“Preliminary investigation by the Special Investigating Unit uncovered that the purported employees were not employed by Molake Management. The UIF was prejudiced and suffered an amount of R259,739.10,” said Matoti.
For further investigation, the matter was then referred to the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation in Bethlehem, which resulted in the arrest of Mthembu. Following his arrest by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation in Bethlehem, Mthembu made a court appearance where he was granted bail of R20,000.
