The Star reports that North Gauteng High Court has sent a strong message that Covid-19 relief fund fraud will not be tolerated by freezing millions of rands allegedly fraudulently paid into in a bank account.  

The Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) obtained a preservation order for more than R3.2 million paid fraudulently or alternatively mistakenly paid into the bank account of Tshepang Phohole.  A National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson said Phohole, an employee of a client of CSG Resourcing, was identified, together with numerous other employees of such clients, to have received a share of this Covid-19 UIF relief funding.  CSG Resourcing, a labour broking company with numerous clients, applied for Covid-19 relief from the UIF in the amount of nearly R5.7m in respect of its clients.  The funds were to be paid to more than 200 employees of different companies by CSG.  An amount of R5,688,81 was to be paid into a nominated bank account of CSG, but was paid into an account held by Phohole.  The payment was discovered by CSG after the relief funding was approved by the UIF, but did not reflect in its account.  Following the discovery, the company reported the matter to the police.  Initial investigations revealed that after receiving the funds, Phohole urgently transferred portions into numerous other bank accounts – apparently 28 in total – held by himself and other individuals.  Investigations by the police into the matter continue.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Zelda Venter on page 4 of The Star of 23 June 2020

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