Brakpan Man Battles UIF Fraud Dismissal and Pension Deductions

Kagiso Sampson says he’s being punished unfairly after others walked free in the same case.

In Brakpan, Ekurhuleni, a quiet storm is brewing between a former government worker and his old employer. Kagiso Sampson, once a supervisor at the Department of Employment and Labour’s Randburg office, says he has been made the scapegoat in a case involving alleged fraudulent Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) claims worth over R250,000.

Sampson insists he was unfairly dismissed and is now fighting to stop the department from clawing R257,000 from his pension, money officials say was lost under his watch.

“Why Only Me?”

Back in 2022, four employees were investigated for processing questionable UIF claims. By the time charges were laid, three years later, Sampson found himself standing alone.

“The others, including the assessor who approved the payments, were acquitted,” Sampson told local media. “But I was fired. And now they’re taking money from my pension as if I pocketed it myself. My role was just capturing claims.”

Adding to his frustration is the fact that while the fraud probe was ongoing, the department promoted him to supervisor. Only later, in early 2025, did his dismissal come through.

A Tug-of-War Over Pension Funds

When Sampson tried to withdraw his pension in June, he says he was first denied access to the documents. Later, he was informed over the phone that the department intended to deduct more than a quarter of a million rand.

“I asked them in writing who authorised this and under what law. They never replied, just told me to ‘be patient’ while my pension was being processed,” he said.

Sampson has since approached the Government Employees Pension Fund ombud and lodged a formal complaint about what he calls “unauthorised deductions.”

Taking the Fight to Arbitration

The dispute is now headed for the bargaining council on 20 September, where Sampson hopes to prove that his dismissal was both unfair and disproportionate. His lawyers argue that his involvement in the claim process was limited and that other officials, those who had the final authority to approve payments were let off the hook.

“I believe my dismissal has less to do with fraud and more to do with internal politics,” Sampson suggested, hinting that unseen hands may have wanted him out.

Department Keeps Tight-Lipped

The Department of Employment and Labour, through spokesperson Teboho Thejane, would only say: “The department follows established formal employment policies on such matters.”

No further details were provided about why Sampson was singled out while his colleagues were acquitted.

Why This Matters

Cases like Sampson’s highlight ongoing tensions within the public sector, between rooting out corruption and ensuring workers are treated fairly. They also raise uncomfortable questions:

• Should employees be held personally liable for funds lost under collective systems?

• Why was disciplinary action delayed for three years, only to result in one dismissal?

• And what protections exist for pensions often a worker’s only safety net against disputed deductions?

For Sampson, the answers may come too late. But his case could set a precedent for how South Africa balances accountability with fairness in public service.

Sampson’s arbitration hearing in September will be closely watched, not just by labour insiders but by ordinary workers across Gauteng who worry their pensions could one day be caught in similar disputes.

{Source: The Citizen}

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