An employee (39) in the human resources department of the City of Ekurhuleni was arrested on Friday for allegedly selling jobs.
His arrest followed lengthy investigations after complaints were received about his alleged illegal selling of jobs, said Chief Supt Wilfred Kgasago, metro police spokesperson.
Allegations were that he was selling positions advertised by the City of Ekurhuleni.
The suspect was picked up from his residence in Benoni on Friday morning around 9am. He had just resumed duties on May 2 following a three-month suspension, added Kgasago.
“Investigations revealed that an Eastern Cape Province man’s identity document and cellphone was stolen in 2014 when he visited Ekurhuleni. His stolen identity document was apparently used to open a bank account into which money for selling jobs was paid into.
“Investigations by the metro police included travelling to the Eastern Cape, where the man whose identity document was used was cleared after submitting statements that he was not involved.”
With the assistance of the Regulation of Interception of Communications Act (RICA), the cellphone number reflected on the job advertisements scamming unsuspecting desperate jobseekers was the suspect’s downfall. Metro police members uncovered 10 cellphones, several MTN, Telkom and Cell C sim cards and a laptop at his home.
A case of fraud was registered against the suspect at Boksburg Police Station.
The DA in Ekurhuleni congratulated the metro police on the arrest.
“We hope the arrest is not a once-off event but rather the start of a trend that sees a clamp down on corrupt officials operating within the metro,” said Jaco Terblanche, DA Member of the community safety oversight committee.
“We urge the MMC for community safety, Ald Vivienne Chauke, to allow the EMPD unit to continue their fight against corruption in Ekurhuleni. The DA is encouraged by these developments and call on the metro police to continue their corruption crackdown in the interests of creating a better Ekurhuleni for residents.”
