It seems like Metsimaholo Local Municipality in Sasolburg smells the ghost and has started counting and verifying its workforce.
For two months now, the municipality has embarked on an exercise of verifying in-person the existence of all its employees and councillors.
According to Metsimaholo spokesperson, Dr Gino Alberts, the municipality has conducted a physical verification for all councilors and employees recorded on the payroll to verify the physical presence of councilors and employees and to detect any “ghost employees” or fraudulent payments.
“The objective of the headcount or verification is to ensure that salaries are made to legitimate councilors and employees who renumerated for work performed.
“To conduct a physical verification of councilors and employees and ensure that salaries are being paid to rightful employees, all councilors and employees were required to produce their original identity document and sign the applicable report prior to receiving the February 2023 salary slip. To facilitate the process, February 2023 salary slips were withheld,” said Alberts.
He said the salaries of those employees and councillors who do not present themselves for verification will withheld.
Alberts indicated since the counting and verification started municipal employees and councillors have been coming forth to present themselves.
He said the municipality is satisfied with the response and co-operation of all its workforce.
