28 Augusts 2007
Two Labour Department Inspectors were today (Monday) arrested in Witbank,
Mpumalanga after they were allegedly caught accepting a bribe from an employer.
Labour Spokesperson Zolisa Sigabi said the two officials were nabbed in a trap
during a joint operation between the department and the police.
According to the report, the suspects were extorting R3 000 from a
construction employer whom they had found to be unlawfully employing illegal
immigrants while they visited the site last Friday. The employer apparently
agreed to go with the officials to a bank where he would withdraw the money but
on finding the bank full, they postponed the transaction to today.
The employer then contacted the department's offices in the province to
verify the legality of the fine, and the trap was set in motion. He then had
the bank notes photocopied and handed the copies to the police. As the two
inspectors left the bank, police approached them and found the notes in their
possession matching the copies.
Reacting to the arrests, Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana today praised
the police for the swift action adding that the arrests would act as a
deterrent to other would-be corrupt officials. "Their action was unfortunate
and damaging the name of our inspectorate division. We condemn the action in
the strongest possible terms," he said.
The incident takes place amid a sweeping crackdown on law contraventions in
the construction sector, with government inspectors searching workplaces
throughout the country since last week.
So far high levels of non-compliance with occupational health and safety as
well as general working conditions have been recorded in the industry that
leads with workplace injuries and fatalities.
Enquiries:
Zolisa Sigabi
Cell: 082 906 3878
E-mail: zolisa.sigabi@labour.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Labour
28 August 2007
Source: Department of Labour (http://www.labour.gov.za)
