SIU secures preservation order for Hillcrest property linked to R9.8m UIF TERS fraud case

The Special Investigating Unit has frozen a R2.7 million property in Hillcrest linked to a R9.8 million UIF fraud scheme, revealing serious allegations against Ziqoqe Construction and its owner.

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has welcomed a Special Tribunal ruling which granted a preservation order for a R2.7 million property in Hillcrest, KwaZulu-Natal, allegedly purchased with proceeds from a fraudulent Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) claim worth nearly R10 million.

In a statement issued this week, the SIU said the preservation order relates to a property linked to Ziqoqe Construction CC and its owner.

"The property is linked to Ziqoqe Construction CC. It is connected to the alleged fraudulent abuse of the Unemployment Insurance Fund's Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (UIF TERS) during the Covid-19 pandemic," the SIU said.

According to the SIU, its investigation found that the company owner submitted TERS applications on behalf of purported employees of the company during the Covid-19 lockdown shutdown periods between March 27 and August 15, 2020.