Three bogus labour inspectors nabbed in Pretoria CBD
Wary businesses began to discuss the suspicious inspectors on their WhatsApp group and notified the police.
The arrests of three bogus labour inspectors in Boom Street, Pretoria, earlier this week sparked warnings by the labour department for businesses to be wary.
Two women and a man, aged 32, 33 and 45, were detained by police for impersonating labour inspectors in Marabastad, said departmental spokesperson Mishack Magakwe.
“The three were accused of going from store to store to ‘check compliance’ with labour laws and requested UIF documents,” Magakwe said.
He said wary businesses began to discuss the suspicious inspectors on their WhatsApp group and notified the police.
“When the officers questioned them, they discovered that the suspects had forged contracts stating they were working in collaboration with the Department of Employment and Labour, SARS and the Amandebele Kingdom,” said Magakwe.
He said the bogus officials also had other forged documents in their possession, such as labour inspectors’ cards, which they used to gain access to workplace premises, which is a criminal offence under the basic conditions of the employment act.
“For anyone to pose as a labour inspector and perform any functions related to labour inspection is a crime.”
He emphasised that the department had no contract with any company to conduct inspections on its behalf.
“The department wishes to unequivocally state that it has no agreements or partnerships with any recruitment agencies, nor has it authorised any organisation to charge a fee for services rendered by the department.”
He said employers had to exercise extreme caution and report any suspicious visits or requests to the police or the department’s local offices.
“If employers are concerned about the inspector’s visit, they can check the credentials with the department’s nearest office.”
Magakwe said to avoid becoming a victim of a con artist posing as a labour inspector, the department recommended employers to keep in mind that genuine inspectors could be identified by their inspector identification card, which bears the departmental logo, as well as their trademark uniforms.
“These are created in advance of the inspection.”
The department commended employers for their vigilance, which resulted in the arrest of the three suspects.
ALSO READ: Two pedestrians struck by crashing cars
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
