Several relief measures were introduced to support citizens during the Covid-19 related lockdowns, however, some people took advantage of this and decided to use social relief initiatives to enrich themselves.
The Covid-19 Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) was created to supplement income lost by workers due to the lockdowns.
One couple looked to take advantage of the system and applied for Covid-19 TERS benefits for 553 workers when they only employed 22 individuals.
The Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court found Moroko Moremi (37) and his wife Treasure Moremi (34) guilty of fraud. The couple cheated the scheme out of more than R10 million.
The conviction has come after the arrests of several individuals who committed Covid-19 TERS fraud.
Commissioner of the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) Teboho Maruping has welcomed the convictions and promised that the fund will not tolerate the syphoning of workers' benefits by unscrupulous individuals.
“I hope the latest conviction and arrests send a strong message to other would-be fraudsters that the long arm of the law will always catch up with you. Those who have helped themselves to funds earmarked for workers during the lockdown should always remember that the law is creeping towards them and they will not have any peace” declared Maruping.
Maruping also thanked members of the public for reporting the abuse of Covid-19 TERS funds.
Since the 2020 “Follow The Money" project was launched, around R900 million has been recovered by the UIF.
