UIF Commissioner Teboho Maruping suspended over R5 billion deal

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The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) Commissioner, Teboho Maruping has been suspended for his alleged role in Thuja Holdings deal amounting to R5 billion.

Employment and Labour, Minister Nomakhosazana Meth announced that the precautionary suspension follows a briefing received from the Acting Director-General, Viwe Mlenzana.

She said Maruping has been placed on precautionary suspension, due to the nature of charges he is facing.

This emanate inter alia, from the alleged role he played in the conclusion of the agreement between Thuja Holdings led by Mthunzi Mdwaba and the UIF, which amounts to R5 billion, the Minister confirmed.

The agreement was declared invalid and therefore set aside by the Pretoria High Court on 28 May 2024.

“The Supreme Court of Appeal further dismissed with costs, the subsequent appeal that was lodged by Mdwaba on 15 August 2024.

“This agreement caused a public stir especially in the labour sector, resulting in disputes that caused inefficiencies in the UIF and its systems.

Teboho Maruping disciplinary process to be dealt with expeditiously

Meth highlighted that the Commissioner’s disciplinary process will be dealt with expeditiously, as they need to refocus the Unemployment Insurance fund to its mandate of providing social benefits to workers, as a matter of urgency.

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She added; “I have further mandated the Acting DG, Mlenzana to deal with all systematic and capacity challenges within the Department and its entities so that we can respond adequately to the unemployment challenges in the country.

“I am very much mindful of the UIF’s challenges; specifically, which impact the workers directly, and would like to assure the public that work is currently underway to respond adequately to such challenges.”