KZN conman poses as labour inspector

The Department of Labour has warned about a conman posing as an inspector who demands money after conducting impromptu “inspections”.

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Pretoria – The Department of Labour has warned members of the public about a conman in KwaZulu-Natal who was “masquerading as a labour inspector who subsequently conducts impromptu inspections and requests monies to be transferred into his account”.

The department’s acting spokesman Mokgadi Pela said this warning came after an employer in Howick, in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, contacted the department about a suspicious man who claimed to be an inspector and had conducted a spot inspection.

“The man claimed things were not in order and requested an amount of money to be deposited into an account,” said Pela. After the department received the complaint, the department “confirmed the man did not work for the Department”.

Pela emphasised that labour inspectors “always carry their identity cards, which bears their details and photo and the card is produced prior to the inspection”.

“The Department categorically states that this is nothing more than a scam by an opportunistic swindler intent on fleecing the unsuspecting,” said Pela.

He said the department was working with the police in investigating the case and would “leave no stone unturned to ensure that this fraudster is brought to justice and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law”.

Pela urged all employers, stakeholders and members of the public to be alert and to contact their nearest labour centre to verify any inspectors’ credentials.

African News Agency

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