Six people convicted for Compensation Fund fraud scheme

Six individuals have been convicted for orchestrating a fraudulent scheme to siphon Compensation Fund monies into their personal bank accounts through fictitious medical providers.

This is according to the department of Employment and Labour which said the group pleaded guilty after their arrest late last year, while three others are still proceeding to trial. Sentencing is scheduled for November this year.

Minister Nomakhosazana Meth said: “This case should be a lesson to all those who orchestrate fraudulent schemes to siphon monies from the Compensation Fund that the Department, with the assistance of the law enforcement agencies, will ensure that the individuals implicated in any of the ongoing investigations in and outside the Compensation Fund will face the might of the law.”

The minister said the Compensation Fund, which provides financial and medical support to workers who sustain occupational injuries or diseases, has been the target of several fraud investigations in recent years.

She stressed that any attempt to misuse the Fund undermines vulnerable workers and their families.

"The Compensation Fund exists to provide financial and medical support to workers who sustain occupational injuries or diseases in the course of their employment. Any attempt to defraud the Compensation Fund is not only criminal but a direct assault on the rights of vulnerable workers and their families who depend on it for their livelihood and dignity," she said.

Meth praised the work of officials and institutions who pursued the case.

“We commend our Anti-Corruption and Integrity Management team, law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and the judiciary for ensuring that justice has been served in this matter. Their work sends a strong and clear message that fraud and corruption within state funds will not be tolerated.”

The Department of Employment and Labour said it has since implemented measures aimed at tightening governance and reducing opportunities for fraud within the Fund.

The measures include:

• Enhanced monitoring and auditing systems
• Collaboration with medical regulatory bodies to validate providers
• Advanced digital platforms to limit human interference in claims processing
• Closer partnerships with law enforcement to fast-track investigations and prosecutions

Meth said the Department was working to restore public trust and to ensure that “every rand in the Compensation Fund is used exclusively for the benefit of workers who have suffered occupational injuries and diseases”

THE MERCURY