The Hawks have arrested eight employees from South Africa’s Department of Labour in Limpopo in connection with an alleged Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) fraud scheme, while a private company has also been drawn into the investigation.
Members of the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation teams based in Phalaborwa and Musina carried out the arrests following a probe into suspected irregularities at the department’s Tzaneen office. Investigators allege that between January and May 2025, the officials worked together with a company to submit falsified UIF claims on behalf of beneficiaries, in return for financial rewards. The alleged fraud is estimated to have cost the department over R825,000.
The suspects appeared before the Tzaneen Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 17 December 2025, where they were charged with fraud, corruption, theft and money laundering. They were released on bail amounts ranging from R2,500 to R20,000, and the matter was postponed to 20 February 2026 for further proceedings.
Law enforcement authorities say the arrests are part of a wider crackdown on corruption linked to the UIF, as investigations continue into organised fraud networks that have drained millions from the fund nationwide. The Hawks have indicated that more arrests are likely as the investigation unfolds.
