The Minister of Employment and Labour, Ms. Nomakhosazana Meth announces the precautionary suspension of the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) Commissioner, Mr. Teboho Maruping following a briefing received from the Acting Director-General, Mr. Viwe Mlenzana.

The Commissioner has been placed on precautionary suspension today, due to the nature of charges he is facing, which emanate inter alia, from the alleged role he played in the conclusion of the agreement between Thuja Holdings led by Mr. Mthunzi Mdwaba and the UIF, which amounts to R5billion. The agreement was declared invalid and therefore set aside by the Pretoria High Court on 28 May 2024. The Supreme Court of Appeal further dismissed with costs, the subsequent appeal that was lodged by Mr. Mdwaba on 15 August 2024. This agreement caused a public stir especially in the labour sector, resulting in disputes that caused inefficiencies in the UIF and its systems.

The Commissioner's disciplinary process will be dealt with expeditiously, as we need to refocus the Unemployment Insurance fund to its mandate of providing social benefits to workers, as a matter of urgency. I have further mandated the Acting DG, Mr. Mlenzana to deal with all systematic and capacity challenges within the Department and its entities so that we can respond adequately to the unemployment challenges in the country. I am very much mindful of the UIF's challenges; specifically, which impact the workers directly, and would like to assure the public that work is currently underway to respond adequately to such challenges.

ENDS//

Media enquiries and interviews:

Ms. Thobeka Magcai, Ministry Media Liaison Officer. Email: Thobeka.Magcai@Labour.gov.za 072 737 2205

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Issued by:

MINISTRY OF EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR​

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