Gauteng Health Department freezes 60 salaries amid payroll fraud investigation

The Gauteng Department of Health has frozen at least 60 salaries after employees failed to participate in a verification process aimed at curbing payroll fraud.

The move is part of the department’s ongoing efforts to eliminate ghost employees and ensure that only legitimate workers are being compensated.

Crackdown on Payroll Fraud

Last year, the department launched the Ziveze Programme, which translates to “show yourself”. The initiative was designed to verify the identities of employees and ensure that they were actively working within the department.

As part of the programme, employees were instructed to visit their human resources offices to confirm their employment status. The information collected was then cross-checked with the department’s official payroll records.

Despite multiple warnings and an extended verification period, dozens of employees failed to comply, prompting the department to freeze their salaries.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

Provincial Health spokesperson Motalatale Modiba has issued a stern warning to employees who continue to evade the verification process.

“Those who continue to avoid the verification process risk permanent removal from the payroll, including criminal cases being opened against them,” Modiba stated.

He further emphasized that individuals willingly receiving salaries they are not entitled to could face serious legal consequences.

“Someone has been willing to receive a salary that is not due to them and does not come forth to ensure that they stop receiving that particular amount,” he added.

A Systemic Issue in Public Service?

The freezing of salaries has once again raised concerns about corruption and inefficiencies in government payroll systems.

The issue of ghost employees – individuals who are listed on the payroll but do not actually work for the department – has been a long-standing problem within South Africa’s public sector.

The Gauteng Health Department is one of the largest provincial employers, and fraudulent salary payments drain resources that could otherwise be used to improve healthcare services.

Government’s Response and Next Steps

To combat payroll fraud, the department has taken the following measures:

1. Strengthened Verification Systems – The Ziveze Programme is part of a broader strategy to ensure all employees are accounted for.
2. Suspension of Salaries – Employees who fail to verify their employment will continue to have their salaries frozen.
3. Potential Legal Action – The department has not ruled out pursuing criminal charges against individuals who have knowingly received fraudulent salaries.

Financial Impact of Payroll Fraud

Fraudulent salary payments cost the government millions of rands annually, leading to:

• Misallocated funds that could be used for health services, medical equipment, and infrastructure improvements.
• An overburdened workforce, as legitimate employees have to compensate for missing personnel.
• A decline in service delivery, affecting the quality of healthcare provided to Gauteng residents.

Public Reaction and Accountability Calls

The public has welcomed the crackdown, with many calling for stronger oversight mechanisms to prevent future payroll fraud.

Civil society organizations and anti-corruption watchdogs have urged the government to audit all provincial and national departments to ensure that similar cases of ghost employees are exposed.

Final Warning for Affected Employees

Employees who have had their salaries frozen still have an opportunity to come forward and verify their employment.

However, the department has made it clear that continued non-compliance will result in permanent removal from the payroll and potential criminal prosecution.

As the fight against payroll fraud and corruption intensifies, the Gauteng Health Department has reiterated its commitment to ensuring financial accountability and integrity in the public sector.

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