JOHANNESBURG - The Special Investigating Unit is conducting search and seizure operations across KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
This forms part of ongoing investigations into a sophisticated syndicate that allegedly siphoned approximately R161 million from the Unemployment Insurance Fund’s (UIF) Covid-19 Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS)
In KwaZulu-Natal, the corruption watchdogs executed a search and seizure order at a Scottsburg home.
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SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago says one of the people that they were following is said to have received about R18 million of that R161 million.
"[W]e are going to all their houses. We are trying to get all the gadgets so that we can finalise and verify the information that they have.
"But so far we have established that they have done a lot of harm to UIF. They were assisted by employees of UIF. That is why one of the searches is happening at the headquarters of UIF in Pretoria. They have bought properties, including the car that you see at the back," Kganyago say.
Investigators have also raided UIF offices in Pretoria.
UIF Acting Commissioner Malebo Mabitja-Thompson says they support the units ' unannounced visit to its Pretoria office.