The National Treasury has warned of dire consequences and criminal prosecution for ghost workers in the public service in a new instruction authorising nationwide verification.
The National Treasury has warned ghost workers in the public service that they could face criminal charges for violating the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (Precca).
National Treasury Director-General Dr Duncan Pieterse has issued an instruction that national and provincial government departments have until the end of October this year to physically verify state employees whose profiles have been flagged as possible ghost workers.
He further warned that if any improper or unlawful activity or conduct in the payment of compensation is identified or if there is a reasonable suspicion of such activity or conduct, accounting officers must ensure that the matter is dealt with through several interventions.
Pieterse said the first is that non-compliance with his instruction is financial misconduct in terms of the PFMA and must be managed in accordance with Treasury Regulations; secondly, if such activity or conduct by an official constitutes an offence under the PFMA, it must immediately be reported to the SA Police Service (SAPS).
