MBOMBELA – It costs just R3 000 to buy a job in the local municipality. Or at least that is the price fraudsters, preying on job seekers with promises of guaranteed jobs in Mbombela Local Municipality (MLM), charge.
A woman who recently fell victim to this “payment for jobs” scheme told Lowvelder that the individuals said her sister and niece could skip the interviewing process for jobs as general workers at MLM.
She was requested to deposit R3 000 at a SPAR to the two alleged fraudsters, making use of the “instant money” concept. SPAR’s divisional retail operations executive,
Mr Martin Schoeman explained that by using this system a person can make a deposit at a store. A message with a PIN is then sent to the cellphone number of the person for whom the money is intended. Using the number they can withdraw money from another SPAR or a Standard Bank ATM. Schoeman explained it was a service they offered customers which was especially for people who didn’t have bank accounts and it took place on a voluntary basis. It was also relatively hard to trace since the cash didn’t go through a person’s bank account.
The alleged fraudsters claimed that they worked in the municipality’s human resources department and even used the names of people who indeed worked for them. Later the woman was introduced to the MLM employees and she discovered the deception as they were indeed not the same people as the fraudsters.
She still insisted that they drove a bakkie with Mbombela’s law-enforcement unit’s logo. She has since laid criminal charges.
Mr Noko Seanego, municipal manager, issued a statement last week warning people about the scam. “The municipality distances itself from this fraudulent activity and would like to state categorically that such a practice is condemned in the strongest terms. Victims of such incidents are encouraged to approach the SAPS for a full criminal investigation. Citizens are also urged to be vigilant and report any corrupt individual.”
He assured job seekers that MLM strictly adhered to the selection and recruitment policy. Mr Joseph Ngala, spokesman for the municipality, said upon enquiry that it made him sad that people fell victim to such schemes. Ngala asked anyone with evidence to come forward to aid MLM in its internal investigation.
- Read here on a recent jobs for pals scandal in Umjindi municipality.
