20 April 2007
Acting Unemployment Insurance Commissioner Boas Seruwe has been confirmed as
the new Unemployment Insurance Commissioner with effect from 1 May 2007, Labour
Minister Membathisi Mdladlana announced in Pretoria today, Friday. The Minister
also announced the appointment of two other officials to positions of Deputy
Director-General (DDG).
They are Siyanda Zondeki the chief of staff in the Minister's office who now
becomes DDG for service delivery and Sam Morotoba as on skills development
after he has been holding the position in an acting capacity. Seruwe has been
acting Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) commissioner since the departure of
the previous commissioner, Shakes Mkhonto in June 2005. Mkhonto has since been
appointed Commissioner for the Compensation Fund.
He joined the Department of Labour in 2004 as Chief Financial Officer to
help turn around the financial management of the UIF which was in disarray. He
joined the department from PriceWaterhouseCoopers where he was a senior
consultant. He holds a B Com degree specialising in Accounting from the
University of Zululand. He also completed a National Higher Diploma in Taxation
from Technikon South Africa as well as an MBA from University of South
Africa.
Before he joined the UIF in 2005, the fund was struggling with its financial
management to the extent that the Auditor-General issued disclaimers every
financial year. The UIF was also becoming a regular feature in the corridors of
Parliament as it was called on two occasions to come and account before the
Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA).
"Mr Seruwe played a significant role in ensuring that the fund got its
financial management right after years of serious challenges. I think everybody
will agree with me that together with his management team and dedicated staff,
they can be credited with the watershed moment achieved in the 2005/06
Financial Year when the fund received an unqualified audit opinion," Minister
Mdladlana said.
Minister Mdladlana added that a lot was expected from the new commissioner
who would now be responsible for continuing to transform the fund into a public
entity. The UIF completed the process of ring-fencing its operations on 31
March 2007 and was now operating as a fully fledged public entity with the
Commissioner reporting directly to the Director-General of the Department of
Labour.
"Unlike his predecessors, Mr Seruwe will have more powers as moves are
already afoot to amend the Unemployment Insurance Act so that the commissioner
becomes the accounting officer of the fund instead of the Director-General of
the Department of Labour. Once the law has been amended the commissioner will
sign a performance agreement with the Minister of Labour. His brief will also
include oversight and management of the new UIF in line with the envisaged
Social Security and Retirement Reform," he concluded.
Enquiries:
Kgomotso Sebetso
Cell: 073 269 9870
Issued by: Department of Labour
20 April 2007
