GQEBERHA – Five members of one family were sentenced by the Gqeberha Specialised Commercial Crime Court on 20 August for defrauding the Department of Employment and Labour of about R500,000 through a fraudulent Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) claims scheme that operated for nearly two years.

According to Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana, the convictions and sentences bring to an end more than a decade of legal proceedings stemming from the scheme, which involved 18 fraudulent UIF claims and the manipulation of official documents to divert funds into bank accounts controlled by the accused.

He said the five, Dimitri Jantjies (48), Barbara Jantjies (77), Thomas Jantjies (77), Virsinese Jantjies (42) and Tania Jantjies (49), were convicted of fraud and 13 counts of money laundering.

Mhlakuvana said the accused acted in concert with the late C’Bornai Jantjies (50), a former employee of the department, and submitted fraudulent UIF applications.

“The scheme, which operated from May 2009 to March 2011, involved the manipulation of official documents, including employer declaration forms (UI-19s), to divert UIF funds into bank accounts controlled by the accused,” said Mhlakuvana.

He said that after red flags were detected by the department, the matter was referred to the Hawks for an intensive investigation.

Mhlakuvana said the investigation revealed that the accused used their positions and influence within the department to ensure that fraudulent claims were processed and approved.

“The single count of fraud comprised 18 false UIF claims, resulting in an actual loss of approximately R500,000 and potential prejudice of more than R110,000,” said Mhlakuvana.

He said the late C’Bornai and Dimitri exploited their roles to process and approve the fraudulent claims, while the other accused recruited individuals to provide bank accounts.

Mhlakuvana said that, in some instances, they received payments directly or offered rewards to those who cooperated.

He said the investigation further established that some of the account holders were relatives of the accused or had been approached through family connections, social circles or even their domestic worker.

Others were family friends, fellow church members and former partners.

“None of the claimants were aware that their bank accounts were being used to channel fraudulent UIF funds, highlighting the calculated and concealed nature of the operation,” said Mhlakuvana.

He said a thorough investigation by the Gqeberha Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team ultimately resulted in the arrest of the family members.

Mhlakuvana said that, following their arrests, they appeared in court and were each released on bail.

He said the accused made several court appearances before their eventual conviction and sentencing.

Dimitri was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment, while Barbara and Thomas were each sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.

Virsinese and Tania were each sentenced to four years’ imprisonment.

Mhlakuvana said the court ordered that the respective counts be taken together for purposes of sentencing.

The Provincial Head of the Hawks in the Eastern Cape, Major Mboiki Obed Ngwenya, commended the dedicated investigative efforts of the Gqeberha Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team for their perseverance and commitment in bringing this complex matter to finality.

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