22/11/2025
HAWKS ARREST KLERKSDORP DEPT OF LABOUR OFFICIALS FOR FRAUD
The North West Hawks Serious Corruption Investigation have arrested Simphiwe Dube, Fekeza Mathe and Matthews Pitse on 17 and 18 November 2025 for allegedly defrauding the Department of Labour of over R53 000.
Pitse, who is charged with fraud, is accused of using the centre number of Mmabatho when he processed payment.
This comes after a member of the public, who is still at large, allegedly submitted an application for Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) in October 2019. It is reported that a claim of over R53 000 was processed and paid to the claimant.
The Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Tinyiko Mathebula confirmed that investigation revealed that the claimant was never an employee of the company he claimed to have worked for.
“It was further established during the investigation that Mathews Pitse, the registration supervisor at the Department of Labour based in Klerksdorp, used the centre number of Mmabatho when he processed payment for the claimant, instead of Klerksdorp’s where he is stationed.
“After receiving the funds, the claimant allegedly transferred R24 500 to Simphiwe Dube and a further R21 500 to Fekeza Mathe, who was also the registration supervisor at the Department of Labour based in Klerksdorp,” said Mathebula.
They appeared in the Klerksdorp Magistrates Court on Wednesday, 19 November 2025, and were granted R2000 bail each.
Their matter was postponed to 07 January 2026.
In 2020, following an auditor-general investigation, the UIF commissioner and top management were suspended due to irregularities in the COVID-19 TERS program, with over R30 million paid to incorrect recipients.
In 2022, an official was arrested for allegedly demanding “spot fines” from a construction company.
In response to the ongoing allegations of corruption and fraud, the department has stated a commitment to enforcing good governance and holding corrupt individuals accountable. The Compensation Fund has implemented systems like biometric verification and bank account validation to prevent fraud.
Thobile Lamati, Director General for Employment and Labour, stated, “As a department, we will accelerate internal processes for consequence management and triumphantly enforce good governance principles to ensure that corrupt individuals face consequences within the department. The Department regards this as a critical and effective step toward eliminating fraud and corruption within the department.”
“It is unfortunate that the case against the department official is related to corrupt practices. However, rest assured that the department is doing everything in its power and authority to bring whoever is responsible to justice.”
November 21, 2025 Thys Khiba City Report SA